Alaba International Market: what it sells and how to shop there

Need a television, a sound system, a phone, a generator part or the right cable for an appliance nobody else stocks? In Lagos, somebody will tell you to go to Alaba. Alaba International Market, in Ojo on the western side of the city, is generally described as the largest electronics market in Nigeria. This guide explains what it is, how to get there and how to shop without regretting it.

Where it is

Alaba International Market is in Ojo local government area, in the Badagry Division of Lagos State, on the Lagos–Badagry Expressway side of the city. Ojo is also home to Lagos State University and to a separate market with a confusingly similar name, Alaba Rago, which is a livestock market. If a driver asks which Alaba, the answer for electronics is “Alaba International”.

It sits west of Ajegunle and Apapa, so if you are coming from the Island, plan for the expressway traffic: see our guide to Lagos Island and the Mainland if the geography is new to you.

What it sells

Alaba is first and foremost an electronics market. Expect televisions, audio and sound equipment, home appliances, phones and accessories, cables, chargers and spare parts, alongside the people who fix them: appliance repair is part of the market’s business as well as sales.

The market has a history with music, too, and not a happy one for musicians: the Ajegunle singer Daddy Fresh is reported to have had more than a million pirated copies of his songs sold there.

A market under pressure

In June 2023 the Lagos State Building Control Agency said 17 buildings in the market were “beyond redemption” and began demolishing structurally defective buildings. The market has also seen violent clashes, most notably in October 2022. On an ordinary day it is simply crowded, noisy and full of people trying to make a living.

How to shop at Alaba

None of this is official advice, just what anyone who buys electronics in a big open market learns sooner or later.

1. Know what you want before you go. Write down the exact brand and model number. A vague request gets you whatever is on the shelf.
2. Compare at least three shops. Many shops sell the same thing. Walk, ask, and do not buy at the first stall.
3. Bargain politely. The first price is an opening. Be friendly, be patient, and be ready to walk away; you will often be called back.
4. Test it in front of you. Ask the seller to power it on, play sound, show the picture or connect the phone. Check the serial number on the device matches the box.
5. New, used or refurbished? Ask directly, and get the answer written on the receipt. If a seller calls something “foreign used”, that means used: it can be good value, but it is not new.
6. Get a receipt with the shop’s name and number, and ask what the shop will do if the item fails in the first days. Take a photo of the shop front.
7. Pay carefully. Carry only what you need, keep your phone and wallet close in the crowds, and confirm a bank transfer has landed before you leave, or that the seller confirms it has.
8. Go early, and go with someone who knows it. An early start leaves time to compare. A friend or relative who shops there regularly will save you time and money.
9. Plan the trip home. Big items need a vehicle. Agree the price for transport before you load.

Common traps

• The swapped box. You test one unit, and a different one is packed. Watch it go into the box, and check the serial number again before you leave.
• The missing parts. Remote controls, cables, stands and chargers sometimes “come later”. Make sure everything you are paying for is in the bag.
• The helpful guide. Somebody you have just met offers to take you to a cheaper shop. They may be genuine, but their commission comes out of your price.
• The pressure sale. “Last one, price go up tomorrow.” Maybe. Take a walk and compare anyway.

None of this means Alaba is dishonest; most traders depend on repeat customers and want you back. It means it is a big, fast market, and the buyer who is prepared gets the better deal.

Is it worth the trip?

If you need several items, need something unusual, or are buying for a business, Alaba’s choice and competition are hard to beat. If you need one ordinary phone charger, a shop near home will save you an afternoon in traffic, and the difference in price may not cover your transport. And if you are buying something expensive, it is worth taking your time: the market will still be there tomorrow.

The Alaba spirit in AJ Cities

AJ Cities, our free browser game, is set in an invented estate on the edge of Ajegunle and has no Alaba of its own. What it has is Benny, the invented salesman in Room 8 at Iloro House, who will sell you phone credit in the morning, chargers by ten, fuel in jerrycans when the pumps run dry and umbrellas the minute it rains, and writes it all in a notebook with a rubber band round it. On AJ’s first day Benny tried to sell him a charger, a SIM card, a phone to go with it and a second-hand belt. Any Alaba trader would be proud.

Where is Alaba International Market?

Alaba International Market is in Ojo local government area, in western Lagos.

What is Alaba market known for?

Electronics. It is generally described as the largest electronics market in Nigeria, for sales and for repairs of home appliances.

Is Alaba Rago the same as Alaba International?

No. Alaba Rago is a separate livestock market, also in Ojo.

How do I avoid buying a fake or faulty item at Alaba?

Know the exact model, compare several shops, test the item in front of you, check the serial number matches the box, and get a receipt that says new or used.