Lagos Workers Are Ditching Single Paychecks as Costs Soar

Maria Ogundimu wakes up at 5 a.m. every day. By 8 a.m., she is serving customers at a fashion boutique in Ikeja. After the shop closes at 6 p.m., she rushes to a second job at an events company nearby. On weekends, she sells handbags through social media. "One salary cannot sustain me anymore," she said. Her story is becoming increasingly common across Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.

Rising Costs Push Workers to Find Extra Income

Food prices in Lagos have jumped significantly over the past year. A bag of rice that cost NGN 25,000 two years ago now sells for NGN 55,000 at many markets. Transport fares have doubled on major routes. Rent in areas like Yaba and Gbagada has increased by between 30 and 45 percent since 2022, according to property agents operating in those neighbourhoods.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported in its most recent Household Survey that over 60 percent of Lagos workers earning below NGN 100,000 monthly reported feeling "unable to meet basic needs" with a single income. That figure was under 40 percent in 2021, reflecting how rapidly economic pressure has intensified for the city's lower-income earners.

Where the Second Jobs Are Coming From

Many Lagos workers are turning to the gig economy. Ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt have thousands of registered drivers in the city, with a large portion holding full-time jobs elsewhere and driving in evenings. Food delivery services including Glovo and Chowberry have also seen driver numbers grow by over 25 percent in the last twelve months, according to industry data shared with reporters.

Others are leveraging skills they already have. Freelance graphic design, tutoring, hair styling, and small-scale trading have become additional income streams for workers who previously relied entirely on monthly salaries. Tech professionals in places like Yaba's Tech Hub or Lagos Island's emerging co-working spaces frequently take on contract projects after their primary jobs end for the day.

Digital Platforms Fuel the Side Hustle Boom

Online marketplaces have made it easier for Lagos residents to sell products without formal storefronts. Instagram and TikTok have become selling platforms for fashion, food, and beauty products. Jumia reported a 34 percent increase in vendor registrations from Lagos in the first quarter of this year, with many vendors describing themselves as "part-time entrepreneurs" holding down other jobs.

The informal economy now accounts for a substantial share of Lagos's total economic activity. Economists at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce estimate that side businesses operated by full-time employees contribute roughly NGN 2.8 trillion annually to the city's GDP, a figure that has grown steadily as wage stagnation forces more workers to seek alternatives.

What Employers Are Saying

Some companies have noticed the shift. HR managers at several multinational firms operating in Victoria Island and Lekki told reporters that they have seen employee availability for overtime drop in recent months. "Workers are tired," said Chidi Eze, HR Lead at a logistics company headquartered in Ojota. "When you ask them to stay late, many say they have to get to their second job."

Not all employers view the trend negatively. A Lagos-based fintech startup has introduced flexible hours specifically to accommodate employees who run side businesses. Its CEO, Bolaji Alabi, said the policy reduced attrition by 22 percent last year. "People need flexibility more than ever," he added. "If you give them space, they perform better at their main job too."

The Mental and Physical Toll

Medical professionals in Lagos have raised concerns about health impacts. Dr. Adaeze Nwosu, a physician at a hospital in Surulere, said her clinic has seen a rise in patients reporting exhaustion, anxiety, and sleep deprivation. "Many come in saying they sleep four hours a night because they have to handle two or three commitments," she said. "We are seeing burnout cases that we did not see as frequently five years ago."

The Lagos State Government has not introduced specific policies addressing multiple-job household stress, though the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment has held public forums on income diversification as a development strategy. advocates have called for greater attention to the issue, particularly as inflation shows no immediate sign of cooling.

What to Watch Next

Economists expect cost pressures in Lagos to persist through the rest of the year. The Central Bank of Nigeria's next Monetary Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for late September, and any decision on interest rates could affect borrowing costs and consumer spending power. For workers like Maria, decisions made in those rooms will directly influence how many jobs she needs to hold to survive. "I will keep working both places until something changes," she said. For millions of Lagos residents, that sentiment now feels like the new normal.