Food Delivery in Lagos, Nigeria (2026 Guide)

Food delivery in Lagos has matured rapidly since 2021. In 2026, most Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki residents can order food to the door within 35–55 minutes, paid via Paystack/Flutterwave, bank transfer, or cash. The market is dominated by Chowdeck (aggressively local), Glovo (international), and Jumia Food, with GeraEats a newer entrant focused on lower restaurant commissions.

Which platforms operate in Lagos?

• Chowdeck: the locally-built Lagos leader. Best restaurant selection in Lekki and VI, strong Mainland coverage, generally the fastest delivery. Commission to restaurants: 15–25%.
• Glovo: pan-African player. Good selection, particularly for chains and QSR. Commission: 20–30%.
• Jumia Food: part of the Jumia e-commerce group. Broad selection. Commission: 20–25%.
• GeraEats: newer entrant, lower commission (12–18%), building restaurant partnerships in VI/Lekki first and expanding to the Mainland.
• Bolt Food: left Nigeria in 2023 but hinted at re-entry.
• Direct WhatsApp: many restaurants take orders direct; no commission but no tracking, no discovery, no aggregation.

What does a typical order cost?

A typical ₦6,000 food order in Lagos in 2026:

• Food: ₦6,000
• Delivery fee: ₦800–₦2,500 depending on distance
• Service fee: 5–15% of food (₦300–₦900)
• Optional tip: ₦200–₦500

Total: ~₦7,100–₦9,900 for a ₦6,000 meal. Subscription-style discounts (Chowdeck Max) reduce recurring costs for frequent users.

Which areas have best coverage?

• Highest coverage: Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki Phase 2, Ajah, Ikeja GRA
• Good coverage: Surulere, Yaba, Maryland, Magodo, Gbagada
• Growing coverage: Festac, Ogudu, Ketu, Ogba, Ilupeju
• Patchy coverage: Mushin, Ajegunle, Agege, Ikorodu — restaurant selection limited

Lagos traffic is the largest variable. Third Mainland Bridge delays can double delivery times during rush hour.

What's on the menu?

Lagos food delivery spans an extraordinary range:

• Nigerian: jollof, pepper soup, egusi, suya, amala
• West African: Ghanaian, Ivorian, Liberian representation in VI
• Lebanese: heavy expat demand, many specialist restaurants
• Chinese and Japanese: sushi particularly popular in Lekki
• Italian: pasta and pizza widely available
• Indian: expanding, particularly Oriental Hotel and VI area
• Chains: KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominos, Chicken Republic — on every platform
• Premium cloud kitchens: increasingly common in Ikoyi and Lekki

What do restaurants pay in commission?

Commission pressure is a significant issue for Lagos restaurant margins. At 25–30% on Chowdeck or Glovo platform-delivered, a ₦5,000 meal yields ₦3,500–₦3,750 to the restaurant before food and labour costs. GeraEats at 12–18% structurally delivers more to the restaurant, which allows either lower prices to customers, bigger portions, or higher restaurant margin — typically some of each.

Payment methods accepted

All Lagos platforms accept card (Verve, Visa, Mastercard), bank transfer, Opay/PalmPay/Kuda wallets, and cash on delivery. GeraEats UK adds Apple Pay and Google Pay. Paystack and Flutterwave power most of the checkout infrastructure.