By Ejiofor Toochi
The festive season in Lagos is an exciting time, characterized by beautiful decorations, gift exchanges, and celebrations with loved ones. For many, preparing for Christmas includes shopping for new clothes, foodstuffs, decorations and gifts for their loved ones. Luckily, various markets in Lagos meet these needs, each with its own specialty.
Here are five Lagos markets to visit for your Christmas shopping:
Balogun Market
Located in Lagos Island is Balogun Market, one of the most popular markets in Lagos. It’s your one-stop market for all things Christmas. The market is renowned for its wide selection of goods, which includes fabrics, provisions, ready-made clothing, footwear, bags, jewelry, decorations, hair accessories, and much more. Balogun market offers a variety of prices that cater to different budgets.
Yaba Market
Yaba Market is a popular market for fashion items at pocket-friendly prices and is located on the mainland. Famous for its collection of second-hand clothing, often referred to as ‘okrika,’ the market also features a variety of new clothing, accessories, and footwear. It’s the perfect place to find budget-friendly outfits, whether new or second-hand, for Christmas. A bonus is the Tejuosho Shopping Complex, a modern extension within Yaba Market. The best part is that you can shop late in the evening for excellent prices, as many sellers come out by that time.
Oyingbo Market
Oyingbo Market is one of Lagos’ oldest and busiest markets for affordable fresh food items. The market offers a wide variety of foodstuffs including rice, fruits, poultry, vegetables, traditional ingredients, spices and seasonings. Located in Ebute-Metta on the mainland, Oyingbo Market is an ideal place to shop in bulk for Christmas meals this holiday season.
Aswani Market
Aswani Market, located in Isolo beside the Isolo Local Government Council office, is one of the largest thrift markets in Lagos. It is known for the sales of fairly used fashion and household items at incredibly low prices, starting from as little as N300. The market offers a wide variety of items, including shoes, clothing, children’s wear, and even thrifted wigs. Aswani Market primarily opens on Tuesdays.
Bariga Market
This is another market that offers a range of products, from clothing to food items. It is particularly well-known for offering freshly butchered meats, including beef, goat, pork, and chicken, all at affordable prices—making it an ideal spot for your Christmas meals. While it may not be as specialized as some other markets, Bariga Market is both accessible and budget-friendly.
Balogun market is definitely a place to patrnize this season if you on the look for already made wears. We have influx of people. I couldn’t bear the crowd.
Yaba is my go- to market. Asin bed down select thinz😂