Wholesale Buying in Nigeria: How It Works for Retailers and Distributors

Start with the product spec, not the product name

If you send a supplier 'I need bags' you will get the wrong bags. Write a one-page spec. Include material, size, weight, color, packaging, carton quantity, barcode, and photos. Add the HS code if you import. Ask for the factory's current spec sheet. Check if the price is per piece or per carton. That one mistake kills margins.

Confirm MOQ and packing before you talk price

Factories sell in cartons. Wholesalers sell in cartons or pallets. Ask the MOQ per color and per size. Ask if the factory will mix colors to reach MOQ. Get carton dimensions, gross weight, and CBM. You need CBM for freight. You need weight for haulage inside Nigeria. If the MOQ is too high, ask for a trial order or a stock lot. Do not assume the MOQ on the website is fixed. Many factories move it for repeat buyers.

Get a real landed cost

A FOB price is not your cost. Build the landed cost before you pay. Use this list:

• FOB or EXW price per carton
• Freight to Lagos port or airport
• Insurance
• Customs duty and VAT
• Clearing agent fees
• Terminal and shipping line charges
• Haulage from port to your warehouse
• Local transport to your buyers
• Banking and FX charges
• A small buffer for demurrage or delays

Ask the supplier for CIF Lagos if you want one number. But still check duty. Some goods need NAFDAC, SON, or other permits. Check before you ship. If you skip that, your container can sit at Apapa or Tin Can while you pay rent.

Samples and supplier checks

Pay for a sample. Do not accept 'free sample' where you pay 80 USD courier and get a cheap item. Test the sample. Check stitching, weight, seal, expiry date, and packaging. Compare it to the spec sheet. For local wholesale, visit the market or warehouse. For remote suppliers, use a local agent to see stock. Ask for business registration, factory photos, and past export documents. Do not rely on WhatsApp photos alone.

Payment terms

Never send full payment to a new supplier by personal transfer. Use a company account. Split payment: deposit, production update, balance against shipping documents. If you use an agent, make the agent confirm stock and freight before money moves. Keep every chat and invoice. Watch fake bank alerts. A supplier who pushes you to pay fast is a red flag.

Clearing and transport in Nigeria

Use a licensed clearing agent. Get a written quote that lists duty, terminal charges, and agency fee. Ask what happens if the container is delayed. Lagos traffic and port congestion cost money. Book haulage before clearance ends. For upcountry delivery, confirm the truck size and whether the price includes offloading. Rain season can slow delivery. Insurance is cheap compared with a lost truck.

Common pitfalls

• Comparing piece price with carton price
• Ignoring duty, clearing, and haulage
• Shipping regulated goods without permits
• Paying a deposit to a personal account
• No written spec and no sample approval
• Forgetting FX movement between quote and payment
• Assuming a low MOQ includes mixed sizes
• Not checking the supplier's stock before payment

How to place the order

Once the spec, MOQ, sample, and landed cost are clear, place the order. Do not rush. A good wholesale order is boring: clear spec, confirmed stock, written freight, and a payment trail. That is the whole game.

You can browse the catalog and order on GlobemX. You see local-currency prices, clear MOQ, and a local agent confirms stock and freight before you pay. That fits how buyers in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Niger, and Chad actually work.