Feeding a megacity like Lagos — with over 17 million residents — is no small feat. Behind the scenes, a network of bustling food markets keeps grains, vegetables, seafood, and meat flowing daily.
These markets are more than just trading points; they are the heartbeat of Lagos’ food economy, sustaining households, shaping food prices, and driving billions in commerce.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described Lagos as Nigeria’s largest food market, revealing that the state consumes over 50% of food traded across the South-West and has a food economy valued at ₦16.14 trillion. According to Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, transactions across Lagos food markets hit ₦9 billion daily and ₦5 trillion annually.
Here are the 7 biggest foodstuff markets in Lagos you should know:
1. Mile 12 Market – The Vegetable Powerhouse
Located in Kosofe LGA along Ikorodu Road, Mile 12 Market supplies more than 60% of Lagos’ vegetables. Trucks arrive daily from Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, and Benue loaded with tomatoes, onions, peppers, carrots, and yams.
It is the largest wholesale market for perishable goods in Lagos.
2. Oyingbo Market – Lagos’ Oldest Modern Hub
Situated near Ebute Metta, Oyingbo Market has colonial roots but was rebuilt in 2015 into a modern multi-storey complex.
Known for frozen fish (both imported and local), it also offers meat, fruits, and provisions in bulk — making it a one-stop shop for Lagos households.
3. Mushin Markets – Fresh Food Agro-Hub & Daleko Rice Center
Mushin hosts multiple vibrant markets:
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Ajino Market: Fresh vegetables and peppers.
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Ojuwoye Market: Provisions and household foodstuff.
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Daleko Market: Lagos’ largest rice hub, setting the tone for rice prices across the state.
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Mushin Fresh Food Agro-Hub (Idi-Oro): A modern trading facility launched in 2023, recording ₦2.495 billion transactions in its first year.
4. Makoko Seafood Market – Women at the Heart of Trade
Located in the famous lagoon community, Makoko Market is run predominantly by women who inherited the seafood trade through generations.
Offers an extensive variety of fish, bushmeat, and even exotic items like crocodiles and alligators.
5. Oluwo (Epe) Fish Market – Nigeria’s Seafood Trading Hub
In the fishing town of Epe, the Oluwo Fish Market serves as a central hub where wholesalers buy large volumes of seafood for distribution across South-West Nigeria.
6. Ounje Eko Food Markets – Government Relief Markets
Launched in March 2024 by the Lagos State Government, Ounje Eko Markets sell food items at a 25% discount to ease the burden of inflation. Spread across all 57 LGAs and LCDAs, they became lifelines during the 2024 food inflation crisis.
7. Ijora Fish Market – The Fresh Seafood Haven
Near Apapa Seaport, Ijora Market is famous for its live and fresh seafood — from tilapia and mackerel to crabs, prawns, and lobsters.
Known as Lagos’ “breathing fish market,” where freshness is unmatched.
From Mile 12’s vegetable supply to Ijora’s fresh seafood and Daleko’s rice dominance, these seven markets ensure Lagosians are fed daily. They are not just trading centers but economic lifelines that sustain Nigeria’s busiest city.
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