The Tech Clusters of Nigeria

With the fastest growing mobile penetration in the world, it is no wonder that in every street corner and in every vehicle, around every busy square and in restaurants, Nigerians are glued to their mobile devices. Tourists to Nigeria are often impressed, if not surprised, at the level of penetration of mobile devices in the country. An estimated 88 million out of 160 million residents have mobile phones, 95% of which are smartphones, according to reports from Ericsson ConsumerLabs. The big question is, with all of these mobile phones around, who repairs them when they go bad and where are they even bought? Enter the tech clusters of Nigeria.

Tech clusters as the name implies are a group of tech startups and other businesses that are in close proximity with each other. In Nigeria, the definition goes a step further. The tech clusters of Nigeria are interrelated small businesses with services ranging from software repair and development, hardware repair of mobiles, PCs, DVD players and other electronics, sale of mobile devices, PC and other electronic hardware and software, electronic video games and so on. These businesses are run by young men and women. Some of them are large shops like the popular SLOT or OMEGATRON or CALLUS MILLER, while some of them are run from the back of large stalls with separate tables and partitions for different owners and some in the open air with the technician, a table laden with an assortment of tools and a large umbrella sheltering them from the elements. However large or small, these businesses offer the same basic services and co-exist in the same environment.

This post is about the different tech clusters in Nigeria and where you can find them in whatever region you are.

Lagos – Computer village

The Computer village in Lagos is the most popular of these tech clusters in Nigeria. It is located in Ikeja and is home to practically any electronic device you need from laptops and iPads to surveillance cameras. As described by a visitor, Computer village is not a central location but an interconnected maze of streets spreading out from Otigba street to include Ola-Ayeni street, Olayi Tomori street, Pepple street and Oremeji street, filled with such tech shops and businesses from the very small to the large. Conducting business at Computer village however requires some level of street savvy as there is the ever present risk of interfacing with fraudsters and con-men. However, the technicians are very good and major ‘irreparable’ faults are sorted out quickly at easily negotiable prices.

Abuja – Banex Plaza and GSM Village

In Abuja, the federal capital territory, there are many tech shops in and around the central area. While many of them charge exorbitantly, the best rates can always be gotten at Banex plaza in Wuse phase 2 or GSM village just before the Wuse market. Wuse has often been described as the heart of Abuja and it is no surprise that the tech clusters are located in and around the place. While Banex is a shopping mall with enclosed stalls for the tech businesses, GSM village is built with the same kind of networked maze of passages and corridors as is Computer village. However, you can find anything electronic you need in this place, as well as carry out your laptop and mobile repairs with ease. Phone swapping, known in the GSM village as “Kankara” is also available.

Port Harcourt – Garrison

Garrison lies right on the Aba road expressway which cuts through the city to the old Port Harcourt town. Cresting the hill right after the busy Waterlines junction, you come into contact with a nest of shops and umbrella stalls in the valley known as Ogunabali. In this place you can buy mobile devices, laptops, printers, surveillance cameras, fax machines etc. at affordable rates, as well as carry out repairs and swaps. As it is in all the tech clusters, carrying out business here can be risky if you are not savvy as some of the phones which are swapped in return for yours may be stolen. So ensure you get a detailed receipt for every purchase.

Bayelsa – Tombia junction

Tombia junction in Bayelsa is the one-stop place for electronic deals of any kind in the seaside town. Used phones, known here as “Belgium” phones are sold at negotiable rates, along with phone and mobile accessories like screen guards, pouches etc. Laptops are also sold at good rates. The technicians here however fall into two disparate groups; the really good and the not so good. Take good care when repairing your device to hand it over to only the really good guys. At Tombia junction, visitors can also come in to sell their laptops, phones or tablets to the entrepreneurs there and get good prices for them. However, as a guarantee that the phone is not stolen the seller is asked to produce an original receipt before the purchase is made.

Benin City – Abuma and Airport road

In the ancient city of Benin, right by the large Oba market on ring road is an area known informally as Abuma. A line of shops crammed into three and four-storey buildings, all your mobile phone and computer repairs, accessories and sales of both hardware and software can be carried out with ease. For those who may find it difficult locating this place, the Airport road cluster serves as an alternative. Located just after the Okada airport, Benin, this cluster lies in front of the GRA link road and offers the same services as seen in Abuma. You can also swap your old phones for new or used – known here as “UK” used phones. Visitors can also sell their phones here for affordable rates after producing a receipt.

So there they are, the tech clusters of Nigeria in almost every region. If I have missed out any, please add them in the comments below

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