NIGERIA: Lagos: Market Visit

I jumped to the invitation to visit a market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. I've never been to one, well except in Lekki which is small in comparison to the one we're going. 

There are lots of markets in Lagos. Some sell okrika (second hand clothes), but for other things they call it tokunbo (from overseas) which is used item in nature (car, laptop, house items etc). Some market specialised in vegetables, like the one on the way to Ikorodu and many more. Each unique and some were colourful, buildings painted by companies like the ones in the picture.

colourful buildings..painted by the sponsors

fridge and freezer shop

The market visit was organised by the company to interact with their customers, the sellers in the market. To me it was an experience because not every market is accessible to me. 

Unless I can find a way to paint myself a few shades darker, no one would give me a second look. Since I'm a foreigner, there's a sort of 'mistrust' or suspicious if you could call it. Also, there's these group that they call them 'area boys' who would give you tough time in the market. You can Google the term... What a wahala (problem).

Franklin in action

Anyway, back to the market that I visited...it was a riot of noise, color, smell and activities. I loved it. Franklin started the session by talking to the sellers in the market in Pidgin (simplified English). Not that simple though, but you can learn it. There's online dictionary and between me and madam, she can speak better. Any emphasis, the word is repeated. Most common is 'sharp-sharp', means no delay or quickly. You could listen to this guy Jidensky about the usage (click here) 

There was QnA session and what I noticed about these Nigerians are, if you put them along with the rest of people from parts of the world....you would be sure to hear a few questions or even suggestions from them. They love to give opinion and most radio do have talk shows on daily basis discussing very broad subjects. Quite a competitive lot, if you ask me.

I noticed that people kept staring at me but that is quite normal here. But when I do saw a few uniformed men stopped some other men and later erupted into a fracas, then I was a bit worried. I told myself "it must be me".... the 'boys' were trying to 'ask' money (extort). Usually we come prepared with mopol (mobile police), so it was not a big problem. 

Right after the event, we did a short walkabout around the market. Since it's beside the road, it couldn't be THAT big.. How wrong I was, it was HUGE! We walked to a shop that sells most of the product from the company. Along the way,  I met people invited me to visit their shop, greet me and a few did try to sell me their wares. Generally, people are nice but we were in a hurry. 

Just a short one about the market here. Basically, you could get almost anything here. Please bargain too. "Give them the opportunity to counter bargain" - wrote in a book I read when I arrived in Nigeria. It's akin to sport for them. 

They're also very enterprising people especially the ladies. Reminds me of Pasar Siti Khadijah in Kota Bahru, Malaysia. where women takes centre stage. 

Regarding trade or doing business, there's no limit where they choose to do business. I've traveled to Abeokuta in Ogun State by train and along the line, they do business and at the major stops, like Agbado (click here), you can just summon any of the traders while on board the train and they would come to you. 

I love going to market, wet or dry. My late mum made me and you learn a lot from visiting one. What they produce locally, what had to be brought in. What they consume in abundant and where the produce comes from. Trust me, some of the good products are at the market...not at those fancy places in city centre. Eh hennnn....