Shoprite Shelves Run Empty in Lagos as Retail Giant Retreats
By Daniji Emmanuel
Lagos shoppers are facing a new reality as South African retail giant Shoprite begins winding down operations, leaving once-bustling stores almost deserted. A recent visit to its Lagos outlet revealed near-empty shelves, with only drinks, snacks, and bottled water available for customers.
The sight paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s retail sector, as consumers who once depended on Shoprite for affordable groceries and household goods are now greeted by aisles stripped bare. In Ilorin, the situation is even worse, with only sachet salt and table water left on display.
Shoprite’s exit from Lagos follows a series of gradual withdrawals across Nigeria, including closures in Abuja’s Novare Central Mall in June 2024 and Kano’s Ado Bayero Mall in December 2023. The retail chain cited rising operational costs, unstable foreign exchange rates, dollar-based rents, and weak consumer purchasing power as reasons for pulling out.
Once a symbol of modern retail when it opened its first store in Lagos in 2005, Shoprite expanded rapidly to 25 outlets across 11 cities by 2020. Its model of anchoring malls and offering competitive prices worked for a while, but inflation, high import duties, and a shrinking middle class gradually eroded its advantage.
The retreat raises concerns about over 2,000 jobs at risk, including not only store employees but also cleaners, security staff, suppliers, and logistics workers whose livelihoods were tied to Shoprite’s supply chain.
Yet, while the closure signals another foreign investor’s struggle in Nigeria, it also opens opportunities for local retailers. Indigenous supermarkets and open markets may absorb Shoprite’s displaced customers, particularly in Lagos where consumer demand remains strong despite economic challenges.
Some Lagos residents are taking the shift in stride. “The closure of Shoprite is not a barrier to buying the cheapest products. Indigenous outlets are still here, and we are enjoying them,” said Olatunji Akin, a shopper in Ikeja.
Others see the development as a lesson for government and policymakers. “Shoprite leaving should be a wake-up call. With our population, local entrepreneurs can thrive if government reduces taxes and duties. We need to build our own strong retail chains,” said Gbenga Olorunda, a Lagos businessman.
As Shoprite shutters its stores, Lagos now stands at a crossroads. The almost empty shelves tell a story of economic strain but also hint at a new chapter – one where Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs could step up to fill the void left by a retreating global brand.
