1,000+
Registered Traders
Across all zones
Market Story
About the Market
The history, economic role, and community impact of one of West Africa's most important food distribution hubs.
The Story
Feeding Lagos for Over Four Decades
Mile 12 International Market began as a modest roadside trading point along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor in the late 1970s and early 1980s. As Lagos grew into one of Africa's largest and most densely populated cities, so did the market.
Today, Mile 12 is administered under Lagos State Government oversight and serves as one of the most critical nodes in the food supply chain for the entire Lagos metropolitan area. Produce arrives from farms across Nigeria and from these stalls, feeds millions of Lagos residents every single day.
The market operates under a trader cooperative structure with elected leadership representing each zone and produce category. It has survived floods, recessions, pandemics, and the relentless growth of one of the world's fastest-growing megacities.
1980s
Market established as a wholesale roadside trading point on Ikorodu Road
1990s
Formal zone structure introduced with separate sections for fish, produce, and grains
2000s
Recognised as one of the largest wholesale markets in West Africa
2010s
Infrastructure improvements under Lagos State Government oversight
Today
Over 1,000 traders serving millions daily across Lagos State
Economic Impact
One Market. Millions Fed.
Millions
Fed Daily
Across Lagos State
6
Days Per Week
Monday to Saturday
40+
Years Operating
Established since the 1980s
Market Governance
Mile 12 International Market operates under the oversight of the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Markets Management Authority. A trader cooperative provides day-to-day representation, with zone leaders elected by traders in each section.
Vision for Mile 12
The market's vision is modernisation without displacement. The goal is to improve infrastructure, food safety standards, and digital access for traders while preserving the community character and economic role that has made Mile 12 indispensable to Lagos for over four decades.