By Chiagoziem Laurina Abosi
I still remember the day I stared at my almost-empty bank account, wondering how I was going to survive the next month in Lagos. Rent was due. Transport fares were increasing. Food prices? Let’s not even talk about it.
I had a 9-5 job, but my salary was gone before mid-month. Side hustle? I didn’t even know where to start. Until one day, I met Chidi.
Chidi wasn’t some rich businessman. In fact, just a year ago, he was in my exact shoes—struggling to make ends meet. But when I saw him casually send ₦150,000 to his landlord without flinching, I knew I had to ask.
“Guy, how far? Where you see this money?”
He laughed. “Side hustle, my guy. Mini importation.”
That conversation changed everything. It wasn’t just mini importation—there were several profitable side hustles in Lagos that required less than ₦50,000 to start. I decided to give it a shot, and now, I want to share these side hustles with you.
Mini Importation – From ₦50,000 to ₦200,000+ Monthly
Chidi started with just ₦50,000—buying phone accessories and wristwatches from China on 1688.com. He sold them on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Jiji at double or triple the price.
One time, he bought 20 wristwatches for ₦2,500 each and resold them for ₦6,000 each. That’s ₦70,000 profit in one deal!
He told me, “People love cheap but quality things. If you can import and sell, you’ll never be broke.”
What you need:
- ₦40,000 – ₦50,000 to buy products
- A smartphone for marketing
- Reliable delivery service
Perfume Oil Business – Smelling Good, Earning More
“I tried perfume oil sales because I noticed something—Lagosians love to smell good but don’t always want to spend ₦50,000 on designer perfumes. That’s where oil perfumes come in.
With just ₦20,000, I got wholesale perfume oils in different scents, bought small bottles, and started selling to friends. By the end of my first week, I made ₦30,000 profit.”
A friend of mine, Esther, turned this into a full-time business. She now supplies office workers and even makes bulk orders for weddings.
What you need:
- ₦20,000 – ₦30,000 for wholesale perfume oils
- Small refill bottles (₦50 – ₦100 each)
- WhatsApp and Instagram for marketing
Small Chops & Home-Cooked Meals – Because Lagosians Love Food
If you can cook party jollof, small chops, or even soups, then you have a money-making skill. Aisha started her small chops business from her one-room apartment in Surulere.
With just ₦30,000, she bought flour, chicken, and packaging materials. She started taking orders from friends and office workers, making over ₦95,000 in her first month.
Today, she gets weekly event bookings and supplies office lunch packs, earning over ₦250,000 per month.
What you need:
- ₦30,000 – ₦40,000 for ingredients and packaging
- A gas cooker and frying pan
- Social media for marketing
Freelance Writing – Earning in Dollars from Lagos
David was just a regular guy who loved to write. One day, he saw a freelance writing gig on Upwork and decided to apply. Within two weeks, he got his first client—an American startup paying $100 per article (₦80,000 at the time).
Now, he makes over ₦300,000 monthly writing SEO content, blog posts, and ad copies for international clients—all from his small apartment in Ikeja.
What you need:
- Good writing skills
- A laptop or smartphone
- A Fiverr or Upwork account
POS Business – Easy Money, Every Day
Have you ever been stuck in Lagos traffic looking for a POS agent? That’s because POS businesses make serious money, especially in areas with few ATMs.
Femi started his POS business outside his mum’s shop. In his first month, he made ₦120,000 from transaction fees alone. Now, he owns three POS locations, bringing in over ₦300,000 monthly.
What you need:
- ₦50,000 – ₦100,000 for a POS machine
- ₦50,000 minimum cash flow
- A busy location
Before I started my side hustle, I had excuses. “I don’t have money. I don’t have time. What if I fail?”
But Lagos doesn’t care. Bills will still come. Transport fares will increase. Rent won’t wait.
The difference between being broke and being financially stable is taking that first step.
If Chidi, Esther, Aisha, David, and Femi could do it, why not you?
Which of these side hustles are you interested in? Let’s talk in the comments.
Nice. Freelance writing gigs is definitely one to consider.