List Of Local Markets In Edo State, Nigeria
Welcome to Edo State, my friend! If you’re new in town—maybe you just landed for NYSC, university life, work, relocation, or you followed love to Benin—first of all, you don enter correct place!
But wait… before you get too comfortable, you gats know this one thing:
If you never visit market for Edo, you never start life here.
Markets in Edo—especially Benin City—are not just about buying tomatoes and ponmo. They are the heartbeat of the state, the wahala center and the gist headquarters. The markets na where Benin tradition meets Naija hustle. You fit go buy one thing and come back with five you no plan for. Na so e dey be.
So today, I be your Edo Market Plug™. I go carry you go round the major markets you need to know, whether you dey find fresh pepper, wedding lace, cow head, or that small rubber slippers wey fit last pass the expensive one. This one no be Google copy and paste—na from person wey don chop market life taya!
Let’s go!
1. Oba Market – The King of All Markets (No Cap!)
📍 Location: Ring Road, Benin City
💬 Locals Call It: Eki Oba
If market dey collect title, Oba Market for be “The Market of All Markets.” This one na legendary spot, dem say e don exist since the 15th century. Imagine say your great-great-grandpapa don hustle here before.
Once you reach Oba Market, you go see madness and magic. You go see women screaming prices, men selling phones from the bottom of their bags, and traders wey dey shout like say na voice competition.
What you fit buy here?
– Electronics (some new, some... let’s just say “experienced”)
– Fabrics, lace, Ankara
– Spiritual items
– Groceries and foodstuff
– Accessories, shoes, bags
Oh, and don’t forget to greet Emotan o! Her statue dey close to the market. She be like market mama spirit wey dey protect buyers and sellers. True talk.
Pro Tip:
Go early. Before 10 a.m., before sun go begin fry your brain like dodo.
2. Ekiosa Market – God’s Own Market (Literally)
📍 Location: Along Second and Third East Circular Roads
💬 Nickname: Eki Osa (Market of God)
Forget Yankee. This is truly God’s Market. Ekiosa started when Jehovah Witness people dey preach near the area. From there, it grow like agege bread and now, na one of the biggest traditional markets in Benin.
Here, you no just come to buy onions—you come for culture. From fresh vegetables to traditional spiritual items, Ekiosa dey loaded.
What you go see?
– Fresh food
– Herbal medicine
– Ritual items (Yes o. You go see tortoise shell, native chalk, kola nuts, etc.)
– Local fabrics
Why go?
If you dey into culture or you want original palm oil wey dem no mix with engine oil, Ekiosa na the plug.
3. New Benin Market – If You No See Am Here, You No Go See Am Anywhere
📍 Location: Mission Road & New Lagos Road
Ahhh! This market be like Lagos in Benin City. Crowded? Yes. Hot? Yes. Productive? 100%.
You go enter with ₦2k plan, you go come out with ₦8k bill. Why? Because temptation full everywhere.
What you fit buy:
– Phone accessories
– Human hair (and the wannabe ones)
– Fresh tomatoes, rice, beans
– Okrika clothes
– Bush meat (some wey you no go know the animal name)
Pro tip:
Hold your bag well. And no wear high heels o! This one na market wey you go walk like say you dey do March Pass.
4. Uselu Market (Edaiken Market) – Where UNIBEN People Go for Survival
📍 Location: Ugbowo-Lagos Road
If you’re a student, especially UNIBEN, and you never go Uselu Market—oya return your ID card.
This market na survival ground for students. You fit get garri, maggi, onions, crayfish, and even plate and spoon for your hostel all in one waka.
Why I like this place?
It’s cleaner. Some stalls even get solar light—omo, Edo dey try!
What to buy:
– Groceries
– Student-level kitchen starter packs
– Hair products
– Low-budget cosmetics
– Everyday clothes
Hint:
UNIBEN girls sabi price well for here. Join them to learn work.
5. Oliha Market – When You Need Culture + Fresh Food Combo
📍 Location: Siluko Road
This one na market for elders and those wey dey connect with traditional Benin culture. I call it the market of roots.
Here, you go see things like:
– Yam from village
– Big tubers of cassava
– Ritual cloths
– Alligator pepper
– Traditional healing items
It’s spiritual. It’s fresh. It’s loud. If you want to feel real Benin heartbeat, Oliha go touch your soul.
6. Oregbeni Market – Where Freshness Lives
📍 Location: Ikpoba Hill, Ikpoba-Okha LGA
🗓️ Market Day: Every four days (no be everyday o)
Oregbeni na periodic market, and e dey make sense. Na farmers dey carry their produce direct from bush enter market. So everything fresh like say dem just born am.
What you’ll find:
– Pepper
– Tomatoes
– Plantain
– Palm oil
– Yam
– Charcoal
Advice from your plug:
No wear white. Market days dey messy sometimes, but the deals? Worth am die.
7. Santana Market – Seafood Lovers, Assemble!
📍 Location: Along Sapele Road
If you dey find fish wey fresh pass river water, Santana go hug you well. Just get ready for traffic wahala.
What’s there?
– Catfish
– Tilapia
– Stockfish
– Crabs
– Cold drinks and small chops
Fun fact:
Most of the fish sellers get direct connect from Warri and Sapele. So e dey authentic.
8. Agbado Market – Old but Gold
📍 Location: Akpakpava Area
Na one of the oldest markets for Benin. If you need to set up your kitchen or small boutique, just waka go here.
Things you go find:
– Pots
– Cutlery
– Plastic bowls
– Buckets
– Kitchen accessories (that purple sieve wey dey always disappear)
Why I go Agbado?
To buy things that last. The kind frying pan you go still dey use after NYSC.
9. Ugbogiobo Market – Rural Sweetness
📍 Location: Ovia North-East LGA
🗓️ Every four days
You want to connect with farmers directly? Ugbogiobo na that type of market. No noise, no show off. Just straight-to-the-point, fresh produce.
Available:
– Palm oil
– Yam
– Gari
– Local vegetables
Vibe:
It’s like going to village without going far. Fresh air and friendly traders.
10. Evbuotubu Market – Neighbourhood Palava-Free Market
📍 Location: Evbuotubu Bus Stop
🗓️ Every five days
Small but mighty. If you no wan go big market, and you just want to buy rice, tomatoes, or small indomie for house, Evbuotubu Market go solve your problem.
No traffic, no noise. Just peace and pepper.
🧠 Extra Edo Market Wisdom
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Price Like Pro: Start with half the price they tell you. No be insult—na culture.
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Carry Small Change: POS no dey work everywhere. And some sellers go just vex if you bring ₦1,000 for onions of ₦150.
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Come With Nylon or Basket: Dem go charge you for bag. Carry your own if you wan save money.
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Dress Down: Na market, no be wedding. E fit rain, and you fit waka tire.
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Learn Small Bini: If you fit say “obrigado” or “obokhian,” you go get smiles and discount.
Final Thoughts from Your Edo Plug
My dear, if you truly want to blend in and survive in Edo State, know your markets! They are not just places to buy food or clothes—they are where you feel the soul of the people, the culture, the wahala, and the unity of hustle.
No matter who you be—corper, student, newcomer, or even “Benin married woman”—Edo markets go serve you hot!
So, next time you dey bored or your kitchen dry like desert, pick one of these markets, enter keke, and go chop life.
Which of these markets do you want to visit first? Or which one you don already enter? Drop your gist in the comment section make we yarn like padi them.