Getting a Truck Into Ladipo, Alaba and Computer Village: Market Access Basics

The trader has sold out of a line and the new stock is waiting at the other side of Lagos. The truck arrives at the market gate at ten in the morning and finds the road in front of it already full. Half an hour later the driver is still looking for a place to stop.

Big trading hubs such as Ladipo, Alaba and Computer Village are busy for most of the working day, and the streets around them were not built for trucks. A run that would take an hour on a quiet road can swallow a whole morning here. Planning it properly saves money and temper.

Ask when the market is quietest

Markets often have a quieter window early in the morning, before most shops open, and sometimes late in the evening. These are usually the best times for a truck to get in and out. Ask the shop owner, the market association or the person you are collecting from, because the pattern differs from market to market and changes from season to season.

Plan the whole run around that window. A pickup at seven is a different job from a pickup at eleven.

Know exactly where the truck can stop

Do not tell the driver "come to the market". Give a landmark: a gate, a junction, a named bank branch, a shop number and the side of the road. If vehicles are not allowed into certain streets, find out where the nearest loading point is.

Write this in the pickup and drop-off notes, as in writing pickup and drop-off notes on Sphere. Include a phone number of someone who will be standing at the spot.

Have the goods ready before the truck arrives

A truck that waits is a truck that blocks a road, and in a market that attracts attention fast. Count the cartons, stack them near the door, and tie bundles. Sort stock by type so the driver sees what goes where. If the stock sits on an upper floor, bring it down in advance.

For the same reason, make sure the people carrying are decided before the truck arrives. Our guide to staging a truck on a busy Lagos street covers the etiquette.

Porters and handlers

Many markets have porters who carry goods for a fee. Agree the arrangement before work starts, and be clear about who is paying. Do not let anyone start carrying until the price of the carrying is settled. If you plan to use your own staff, tell the driver so there is no confusion.

Count the cartons out of the shop and count them again onto the truck. In a crowd, a carton can go missing without anyone noticing.

Protect the goods in a crowd

Electronics, phone accessories and spare parts are small and valuable. Keep them in sealed cartons, labelled, and load them under the other stock, not on the outside. Do not leave a loaded truck unattended in a crowd. One person should always stay with it.

If you are moving phones or computers, read relocating a phone and electronics shop for packing guidance.

Choose the right vehicle

A pickup van often gets through where a big truck cannot, and one or two van trips can beat one oversized truck stuck at the gate. For a large stock, a truck waiting at a nearby loading point and a van shuttling goods to it is another option. How to choose the right truck size helps you decide.

Plan the way out

Getting into the market is half the job. Check the road you will use to leave, and avoid planning an exit through the busiest junction at the busiest hour. Tell the driver your route and ask for theirs.

For a very busy market on a very busy day, it is worth changing the day. Midweek is often quieter than a Saturday, though this varies.

How to do this on Sphere

Open the Sphere app and choose a pickup van or truck. Add the pickup and drop-off, and describe the stock: counts, cartons, any bulky or fragile pieces. Put the loading point, the landmark and the quiet hour in the notes. Propose a price. Nearby verified drivers accept it or send counter-offers, and you choose one. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.

Useful pages: Lagos, van hire in Lagos and business moves in Lagos. For another busy trading area, read getting a truck into Balogun, Idumota and Oyingbo.