In a nation of over 200 million people, everyday frustrations are often the greatest business opportunities. While tech startups capture the headlines, Nigeria’s “wealthy hustlers” are making millions by addressing basic needs in unconventional ways.
Here is a breakdown of the “weird” but highly profitable businesses currently thriving in Nigeria.
1. The “Shit Business”: Mobile & Public Toilets
Public sanitation remains a massive gap in Nigerian urban centers. Companies like Dignified Mobile Toilets (DMT) have turned a social necessity into a high-margin enterprise.
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The Model: Charging roughly ₦50 to ₦100 per use.
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The Math: In a crowded motor park or market serving 1,000 people daily, a single unit can generate ₦50,000 a day.
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Scale: Beyond daily commuters, these businesses thrive by renting units to construction sites, outdoor weddings, and political rallies.
2. Repackaged Foodstuff & Personal Shopping
Busy urban professionals in Lagos and Abuja are increasingly willing to pay for convenience and hygiene.
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The Strategy: Buying staples like rice, beans, garri, or spices in bulk (50kg bags) and repackaging them into clean, branded 1kg or 2kg portions.
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Value Add: When combined with “Personal Shopping” (delivering a month’s worth of market runs to a client’s doorstep), profit margins skyrocket.
3. Waste to Wealth: The Recycling Goldmine
Recycling in Nigeria has moved from the “scavenger” economy to a structured industry.
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Wecyclers: This company pioneered a model where households earn points or cash for plastic waste, which the company then processes for corporate sustainability contracts.
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E-Waste Mining: Old phones and laptops are no longer trash; they are “urban mines.” Entrepreneurs dismantle them to recover valuable materials like copper, aluminum, and even trace amounts of gold for export.
4. “Inspired-By” Unbranded Perfumes
Nigerians place a high value on “smelling expensive,” even when the economy is tight.
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The Business: Sellers buy high-quality fragrance oils in bulk from Europe or the Middle East and bottle them locally.
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The Appeal: These “oil perfumes” often last longer than original designer sprays and cost a fraction of the price (e.g., ₦2,000 vs. ₦150,000 for a designer brand).
5. Specialized Cleaning Services
General house cleaning is a low-margin “commodity,” but specialized cleaning is a premium service.
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Niches: Post-construction cleaning (removing cement stains and dust), deep mattress steaming, and mold/sewage cleanup.
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Profitability: These services often charge hundreds of thousands of Naira per contract because they require specialized equipment and chemicals that the average “cleaner” doesn’t possess.
Comparison: Why These “Weird” Ideas Work
| Business Idea | Problem Solved | Profit Driver |
| Mobile Toilets | Lack of public sanitation | High volume, low overhead |
| Repackaged Food | Busy lifestyles/Hygiene | Convenience premium |
| Recycling | Environmental waste | Export value/Grants |
| Oil Perfumes | High cost of luxury | Repeat customers (Refills) |
| Specialized Cleaning | Hidden health hazards | High-ticket contracts |
How to Build Your Own “Strange” Idea
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Listen to Complaints: If you hear five people complain about the same thing (e.g., “I can’t find a reliable person to wash my rug”), that is a business.
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Focus on “Unaesthetic” Solutions: Don’t worry about looking flashy. As the late Isaac Durojaiye (founder of DMT) famously said: “Shit business is serious business.”
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Prioritize Repeat Demand: Look for things people need every day or every month.
