For 35 naira, you can buy a shirt at Katangowa Market in Lagos (Nigeria's capital), the home of the second-hand clothing market, which also sells all kinds of cheap household items.


In this market, all kinds of things discarded in Western countries mean high profits. Every hour, sea containers are brought from the Lagos docks to Katangowa Market. The containers are filled with bundles and bundles of second-hand clothing from Europe and other parts of the world.



Traders flock to the market, picking through the mountain of T-shirts, women's clothes and shoes, haggling and bargaining, either for money or something else.


A large number of clothes were being piled up on the floor, and traders gathered around, ringing the bells in their hands to attract more customers. Traders who were not ringing bells were also shouting to solicit customers, "Good shirts, three for 100 naira."



A trader named Chika Obi said, "A lot of the clothes sold in boutiques and stores are bought from us, bought at low prices and sold at high prices."



Of course, there are many other such markets in Lagos, but none of them have the low prices and variety of things available at Kantagowa Market, which is why people flock to Kantagowa Market.


Kantagowa Market is open seven days a week, with Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays being the days when new goods arrive. The goods come from all over the world, though most of them still come from neighboring African countries.



According to the Daily Sun's investigation, these traders are called by different names, such as first-tier traders, second-tier traders, etc., and each level of traders has different prices for their items.



Further investigation by Daily Sun revealed that in Lagos, Katangua market is frequented by people from all levels of society. Many students from colleges and universities are also regulars here.


Emeka Ihenacho, a first-class garment trader, told Daily Sun that most of his customers are from the upper middle class of society. They come to Katangua Market, park near the market and sit in their cars waiting for Emeka to deliver the clothes. The whole process of the transaction - picking, paying - is done in the car.



He boasts that everything he sells is of high quality, which is why the wealthy customers frequent him.


After the clothes are donated abroad to charity stores, some of them end up in African markets, where they are sold in boutiques and places like Katangowa Market.


Some believe the clothes pose a threat to Nigeria's textile market.



One trader, who asked not to be named, told reporters, "During the festive season, the supply will be more than adequate. During this period, Westerners will donate used clothes in large quantities to charity stores, roll them into bundles and consign them to us."



But even though some African countries - including Nigeria - had long banned the import of second-hand clothing, the trade in second-hand clothing remains red-hot, putting enormous pressure on the textile industry. However, many believe that the second-hand clothing trade provides employment for many unemployed people and a source of income for many families.