August 24, 2025 — Nigeria’s bustling technology market has increasingly become a hub for the trade in stolen and refurbished iPhones, with demand for cheaper alternatives driving a shadow economy that thrives in major cities across the country.
From popular hubs like Lagos’ Computer Village to informal roadside stalls, dealers openly advertise “London-used” and “refurbished” iPhones at discounted rates. While many of these devices are legitimately second-hand imports, investigations reveal that a significant portion originate from theft, smuggling, or illegal refurbishing networks.
Industry experts say the boom is fueled by rising youth demand for premium smartphones, coupled with the weakening naira, which makes brand-new devices unaffordable for many Nigerians. This has created a fertile ground for black-market operators, some of whom strip stolen devices of data, repackage them, and resell them as fairly used.
Security agencies have repeatedly warned consumers against patronizing the illegal market, citing risks of purchasing stolen goods, exposure to fraud, and the possibility of phones being remotely locked by original owners. Despite periodic raids by law enforcement, the trade persists, often sustained by the lack of strict regulatory oversight.
Analysts suggest that curbing the trade will require stronger collaboration between telecom regulators, customs, law enforcement, and global smartphone makers to block stolen devices from being activated on Nigerian networks.
For now, the underground iPhone market remains a booming business, highlighting the intersection of technology, crime, and consumer demand in Africa’s largest economy.