The verdict in three sentences
The last mile represents between 40 % and 60 % of the total logistics cost of an urban e-commerce operation in Lagos: this is where your margin is won or lost. A clear grid by zone, weight and delay avoids nasty checkout surprises and cuts failed deliveries, which cost a second run. The right trade-off between an in-house courier and a provider (GIG, Kwik) depends on your order density per district.
Delivery grid by zone in Lagos (2026)
Lagos splits into zones with very different profiles: the Island (Victoria Island, Lekki — high purchasing power) and the Mainland (Yaba, Ikeja, Surulere — dense, congested). The 2026 orders of magnitude below (shown in FCFA equivalent) anchor your grid.
| Zone | Run price | Standard delay | Recommended mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Island | 1,000 FCFA | Same day | In-house courier |
| Lekki Phase 1 | 1,500 FCFA | Same day to D+1 | In-house courier |
| Yaba / Surulere | 1,500 FCFA | D+1 | Provider |
| Ikeja | 2,000 FCFA | D+1 | Provider |
| Ikorodu | 2,500 FCFA | D+1 to D+2 | Provider |
| Ajah / outer Lekki | 3,000 FCFA | D+2 | Provider |
| Airport / Epe | 3,000 FCFA | D+2 | Provider |
In-house courier or provider: the tipping point
The choice is driven by numbers, not instinct. An in-house courier (bike + salary + fuel) is a fixed cost; a provider bills per run. Below a certain volume, the provider wins.
| Criterion | In-house courier | Provider (GIG/Kwik) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per run (at volume) | 700 to 1,200 FCFA | 1,200 to 2,500 FCFA |
| Fixed monthly cost | 180,000 to 250,000 FCFA | 0 FCFA |
| Break-even point | > 8 runs/day | < 8 runs/day |
| Failed delivery rate | 5 to 8 % | 8 to 12 % |
| Customer experience control | High | Medium |
| Flexibility on order peaks | Low | High |
Mini case study
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Aisha runs a cosmetics store in Lekki. She delivers 12 orders a day, or ~260 per month. Using a provider at 1,500 FCFA per run, she pays 390,000 FCFA/month. By hiring an in-house courier (salary + bike + fuel = 220,000 FCFA fixed), her cost per run drops to ~850 FCFA, i.e. 221,000 FCFA/month. Savings: 169,000 FCFA per month, plus tighter control over failed deliveries. At 12 runs/day, she is well above the tipping point.
FAQ
What failed-delivery rate is acceptable? In 2026, aim for under 8 % in-house. Each failure triggers a second run: at 1,500 FCFA, a 10 % failure rate on 260 orders costs 39,000 FCFA/month in re-delivery.
Should you charge for delivery or offer it? Free delivery above a 25,000 FCFA basket raises the average order value by 10 to 20 %. Below that, charge the zone rate so you don't erode margin.
How do you make Lagos addresses reliable? Many areas lack precise addressing. Require a landmark + WhatsApp number at checkout: this cuts failures by 3 to 5 points.
Does cash on delivery increase returns? Yes: cash on delivery generates 15 to 25 % refusals at the moment of payment. Mobile money prepayment reduces this risk and secures the run.
CTA
Let's talk about your project. We design your delivery grid and wire it into your store checkout with automatic per-zone calculation. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
