₦airaland Forum

I did like to take 2 mins to ask a Quick question:

What has stopped you from buying on a Nigerian/African online store, or what is the biggest challenge running one?

I'm collecting honest answers to shape what could be the solution with shopping online as a Nigerian

it does not take more than 2 minutes: Share your opinons via https://canopy-digital.netlify.app/

So I was at Banex Mall in Lekki (the one on Akiogun Road, Oniru, near the cinema) this weekend to catch a movie, and I noticed there's actually a full MedPlus pharmacy inside the mall too. Small thing but it changed how I think about that whole area.

Normally if I need medicine in Lekki Phase 1, it's a whole separate errand find parking, go in, come out, continue with your day.
But because this one is literally inside the mall (upstairs/ground floor area, can't remember exactly),

I could grab paracetamol and some baby stuff for my sister at the same time I was already there for the movie.

Parking was free too (first 2 hours), which matters because most places in Lekki will collect ₦500-₦1000 from you just to breathe.

Got me thinking how many of you actually know what's inside Banex Mall beyond the cinema?
I always assumed it was just Chicken Republic and the movies, didn't realize it's 100+ shops including Samsung, a gym, and this pharmacy.

Anyway if anyone's around Oniru/Lekki Phase 1 and needs a pharmacy that's not a standalone stress-trip, that's an option.
They're open till 10pm daily too which is later than most of the small pharmacies around there close.

Found a whole write-up online that lists out other pharmacy options across Lekki Phase 1 as well if anyone wants to compare: https://banexmall.com/article/medplus-pharmacy-at-banex-mall-lekki-hours-location-what-they-stock

Anyone else discovered random useful shops inside Lagos malls that most people don't know about?

If your Saturday plan is "quick grocery run, maybe a movie, in and out,"

Palms Mall will get the job done, and its two decades of experience running smoothly show.

But if the plan is "let the kids actually run around, play some arcade games, maybe grab a toy, catch a movie, and let the whole family stay out for the afternoon without anyone getting cranky," Banex Mall in Lekki Phase 1 is built for exactly that day.


The playground alone changes the entire dynamic of a family outing, because your kids aren't just tolerating the trip while you shop, they're actually having their own good time alongside you.

For families living in Lekki Phase 1, Oniru, Victoria Island, or anywhere reachable off the Lekki Epe Expressway, Banex Mall has quietly become the answer to that recurring Saturday morning question of where to take the kids that won't end in tears by 11am.

Read more: https://banexmall.com/article/banex-mall-vs-palms-mall-best-fun-spot-for-kids-in-lekki

Malls to shop in Lekki: quick comparison (Circle Mall, Banex Mall, Lekki Palms, Novare

I keep seeing "where can I go shopping/relax in Lekki" questions on here so let me just drop what I know, since I actually work at one of these (Banex Mall, Phase 1) so take that bit with the appropriate grain of salt — but the rest is just facts on what's where.

If you're coming from VI/Ikoyi side and don't want to fight Lekki-Epe Expressway traffic, the closest option is Banex Mall, Oniru — opposite Maroko Police Station, right at Phase 1 bus stop.

It's not grocery-anchored like the others (no Shoprite), it's more independent stores
100+ shops, fashion, gadgets, salons, gym. Has Banex Cinemas too.

What people don't know: it also has event halls if you're planning a birthday/wedding/corporate thing
4 halls, prices start around ₦35k/hr for the smaller ones.

If you want details you can reach the mall directly on WhatsApp: 09088733388 or 09074931212, they'll send you the hall list and prices same day.

If you want the big supermarket + cinema combo, Circle Mall near Jakande has Shoprite + Filmhouse, open-air layout, decent parking (~500 spaces). Further down the expressway though if you're not already in that axis.

Novare Lekki Mall in Sangotedo is the biggest of the lot
100+ shops, Shoprite, Game, Genesis Cinemas, 1,000+ parking bays.

Good if you're out that way (Abijo/Ajah side) but it's a proper drive if you're coming from Lekki Phase 1/VI.

Lekki Palms Mall (Bisway St, Maroko) is actually walking distance from Banex Mall — also has Game, Shoprite, Genesis Cinemas.
So that whole Maroko/Oniru stretch basically has two malls back to back if you want to compare in person before deciding.

Lets Compare

Closest to VI/Phase 1 + events/co-working → Banex Mall
Big supermarket run + movie → Circle Mall or Lekki Palms
Biggest single mall, if you're Ajah/Sangotedo side → Novare

Anyone been to any of these recently, especially for a party/wedding hall? Curious if prices have changed.
Drop your experience below, or if you specifically want hall pricing at Banex I can point you to the WhatsApp numbers above.

Posting this because this board has had the "who does genuine phone repairs in Lekki" question come up more than once, and 90% of the recommendations turn out to be the same setup reselling Chinese copy screens at original-parts prices.

My iPhone screen cracked a few weeks back and I went to Screen Hunter Recycle at Banex Mall (Ground Floor, South Building, Lekki Phase 1).

Specifically deals in original LCDs and genuine parts for iPhone and Samsung — not the usual "quality copy, you won't know the difference" line you hear everywhere else in Lekki/Ajah.

What stood out:

They diagnosed the phone properly before touching anything
Told me the price upfront before starting, no surprise add-ons after
Screen has held up fine since, no dimming or touch lag (which is usually the first sign of a copy part failing)

They also do:

Battery, charging port, camera, back glass replacement
Water damage diagnostics
Buy/sell/recycle old devices if yours is past saving

Not affiliated with them, genuinely just tired of watching people on this board get sold copy screens at original prices and figured I'd share one that's upfront about what they actually use.

📍 Ground Floor, Banex Mall, South Building, Akiogun Road, Lekki Phase 1
📞 08168908504 (call or WhatsApp)

Anyone else used them or found somewhere similarly straight-up in Lekki?

Let me save someone from what happened to me.

I was planning a birthday dinner for 100 people in Lekki Phase 1 earlier this year. I knew roughly what I wanted a hall, air conditioning, parking, a projector, clean restrooms, generator backup so the lights don't embarrass me in front of my guests. Standard stuff.

What I was not prepared for was the pricing conversation.

The first hotel I called: ₦1,400,000 for the hall alone, plus a mandatory catering minimum of ₦800,000, plus a service charge of 10%, plus VAT. That is before I bought a single plate of food from my own caterer.

The second venue: ₦900,000 for 6 hours. But the generator "adds ₦15,000 per hour." And parking is "not guaranteed."

By the third call I started understanding why people in Lagos just do their birthdays in restaurant side rooms and call it a venue.
Then someone told me about Banex Mall.

What I Found at Banex Mall, Oniru, Lekki Phase 1

Banex Mall on Akiogun Road (opposite Maroko Filling Station) has four dedicated event halls in one building. I am going to list them with the actual prices because the internet is full of "contact for pricing" which is the Nigerian equivalent of "if you need to ask, you cannot afford it."

1. Studio Hall (Hourly) — Cheapest entry point

If you need a space for a few hours:a workshop, a meeting, a rehearsal, a small private event — this hall is ₦35,000 per hour for rehearsals and ₦50,000 per hour for events.

It holds up to 80 persons. 100 square metres. Built-in air conditioning, soundproofed, full-length mirrors (useful if you are doing a dance rehearsal or fitness class), rigging points for decor and lighting, and you have freedom to decorate however you want.

A four-hour event costs ₦200,000. Show me another properly equipped hall in Lekki Phase 1 at that rate.

2. Cinema Hall — Most unique option in Lekki

₦600,000 flat. 100 guests. Pre-installed red cinema seats. High-quality projector and screen. Soundproofed. Popcorn and concession stand available inside.

I have genuinely not seen another event hall in Lekki Phase 1 that has actual cinema-grade seating. Most halls give you plastic chairs and a projector that takes 20 minutes to warm up. This one comes with the cinema infrastructure built in.

Best suited for: private film screenings, corporate presentations, birthday film nights, intimate conferences where the presentation quality needs to be impressive.

Not suitable for: events that need a stage, dancing, or a free-flowing cocktail setup. The seats are fixed.

3. Studio Hall (Full Event) — Best mid-size value

₦650,000. 130 guests. 109 square metres. Television access for presentations, built-in AC, generator backup, clean restrooms, dedicated cleaners after the event, parking for 100+ cars, and chairs available for additional rent if your configuration needs adjusting.

For 130 people at ₦650,000 all-in, this is probably the best value mid-size hall I have found in Lekki Phase 1. That is ₦5,000 per head for the venue. Cheaper than most restaurant buyouts in this area.

4. Church Hall — Best for big events

₦850,000. 170 guests. 203 square metres.

Built-in stage which alone saves you ₦80,000 to ₦200,000 in stage hire from a production company. Soundproofed. TV for projection. Generator backup. Dedicated cleaners. All chairs included.

Additional benefit that caught my attention: Banex Mall will feature your event on their social media channels before, during, and after. If you are hosting a corporate launch or a brand event, free social media coverage is genuine marketing value.

What Every Hall Includes

Just to save the "does it have AC?" questions that are always in the comments:

All four halls have: constant electricity and generator backup, built-in air conditioning, clean restrooms on the floor, dedicated cleaners for post-event clean-up, lift and escalator access, and parking for over 100 vehicles.

If you have attended an event where the generator cut at 9pm and people were fanning themselves with their asoebi for 20 minutes — you know why I am listing this explicitly.

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The Honest Comparison
Hall Capacity Price
Studio (hourly) 80 persons From ₦35K/hr
Cinema Hall 100 guests ₦600,000
Studio Hall 130 guests ₦650,000
Church Hall 170 guests ₦850,000

For context: the cheapest hotel ballroom in Lekki Phase 1 and Oniru that I found with comparable facilities (generator, AC, proper capacity) starts at ₦900,000 before mandatory catering minimums.

The ₦650,000 Studio Hall at Banex beats that on price by ₦250,000 for fewer people, with no mandatory minimum spend attached.

How to Enquire
WhatsApp: 09163775777
Address: Plot 1–10 Akiogun Road, Opposite Maroko Filling Station, Oniru, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

I would recommend going to see the halls in person before booking; the sizes make more sense when you are standing in the room. They allow viewings during the week.

I am sharing this because I spent three weeks making phone calls before someone pointed me here, and I think that information should be easier to find.

If anyone has experience with other affordable event halls in Lekki Phase 1 that I have missed, drop them in the thread — genuinely useful to have a proper comparison for people planning events in this area.

I live and work in Lekki and I noticed that most "things to do in Lekki" guides online are written by travel sites that have clearly never set foot here lots of mentions of "explore the vibrant streets" with nothing specific to actually use.

So I put together a proper one for July.
Things you can actually do, with real addresses and practical notes, not generic tourism copy.

Here's the summary

1. Banex Summer Skills Academy
If you have children between 8 and 16, this is the best July move in Lekki right now.
Three tracks: tech, creative, and culinary running at Banex Mall on Akiogun Road. Children build actual projects, not just sit in a classroom.
The final day is a public showcase.
Registration still open per child.

2. Banex Cinemas
VVIP and VIP cinema inside Banex Mall. Better than most people expect from a mall cinema. July has strong releases book in advance for Friday/Saturday evenings, they fill up during school holidays.

3. Gadget shopping without going to Ikeja
Cybervilla at Banex Mall, Ground Floor, has original phones, laptops, and accessories from Apple, Samsung, HP, Dell, Infinix and more. UK-used and brand new. 48-hour return policy. They also do repairs and trade-ins. I know people are sceptical about mall tech shops but this one is worth checking before making the Ikeja trip.

4. Lekki Conservation Centre
Genuinely underrated by Lekki residents. The canopy walk is the longest in Africa and takes about 45 minutes.
Best on a weekday morning. Two hours minimum to enjoy it properly.

5. Nike Art Gallery
If you have out-of-town guests this July, take them here. 7,000+ pieces of Nigerian art across four floors. Entry is free. Consistently the thing that surprises people most about Lekki.

6. Early back-to-school shopping
Counterintuitive but genuinely useful buying school laptops and supplies in July is easier, cheaper, and less stressful than doing it in September when everyone is doing it simultaneously. Banex Mall covers tech, fashion, and accessories in one stop.


Full guide with more detail, practical tips, and the food/restaurant section is here: https://banexmall.com/article/things-to-do-in-lekki-this-july-2026-your-full-guide

Happy to answer questions about any of these in the thread
I'm on the ground in Lekki so I can give you specific information.