₦airaland Forum

Why I Sell My Akara for ₦22,000 in Lagos –Akara Lekki Owner Opens Up


The owner of The Akara Lekki has broken her silence amid the massive online backlash over the eatery’s premium platters priced as high as ₦22,000, insisting that customers are paying for far more than just ordinary bean cakes.

In a recent interview, the entrepreneur behind the now-viral Lekki spot defended her pricing model, arguing that her product represents a completely different class of akara compared to the roadside versions sold for ₦50 or ₦100 per piece. “I’m not selling ordinary akara. I’m selling an experience,” she said.

“From the quality of beans, premium fillings like seafood, chicken, and beef, to the hygienic environment and professional presentation, everything is intentional.”

She highlighted the high cost of doing business in upscale Lekki Phase 1, including rent, quality ingredients, skilled staff, and maintaining a clean, air-conditioned space that appeals to customers who want a premium twist on a beloved Nigerian street food.

“People compare us to roadside sellers, but they are not comparing apples to apples. Our customers understand the value, clean oil, fresh ingredients, proper packaging, and a place where they can sit and enjoy without stress,” the owner added.

The comments flooded in after social media exploded with mixed reactions to the ₦22,000 platters.

While critics called it “outrageous” and “disconnected from reality” in Nigeria’s current economy, others have defended the business, saying those who can afford it should be free to patronise luxury versions of local delicacies.

The Akara Lekki has two locations in Lekki and continues to attract curious customers and delivery orders despite the controversy.

I guess it's what the first lady saw ....

Financial Fortune is my heritage, I MUST be rich

Nothing wrong in buying at that price if you have the money

Everything is packaging.

From Pizza to Akara.

Data boys must support rubbish, see them above me..

I have always wondered why Nigerians have never been adventurous with Akara.

Why not add sardines, fish, meat, or other things to the Akara, and not just pepper and onions? It would be a wonderful experience

grandstar:
I have always wondered why Nigerians have never been adventurous with Akara.

Why not add sardines, fish, meat, or other things to the Akara, and not just pepper and onions? It would be a wonderful experience

It's the problem with the average Nigerian.
We aren't adventurous in business unless it is ruinous or already successful.

Shellsploit:
I guess it's what the first lady saw ....

And she gave 50k? No, this is far from her vision

Akara 6500, no thank you, shawarma is preferable.

Location is just the main difference. She sited her business in an environment where the people prioritize quality over quantity.If she site it in a different location where people just want to eat whatever makes their belly full ,it will be hard to break even talk less of making profit.

Which one be jumbo akara

Total rip-off... always taking advantage of people's foolishness ...I nmknow say men no go look that's identical...na women.. and man wey patronise am na woman carry am go

Total rip off but this is nigeria people go still patronise her

Niggerians are really poor af. Wdym you cannot afford that piecemeal?? Y'all keep dragging south africa when they are clearly better than you tards out there. Religion and Ethnicity really messed you guys up. Lord Lugard was one evil jigger.

You need healing before it's too late.

Kharol1234:
Data boys must support rubbish, see them above me..

No be juju be this
No be ordinary akara

yarimo:
Nothing wrong in buying at that price if you have the money

There is something wrong with wasting money.
It is only an African big man mentality that makes people think that "if you have money, spend money."

You will NEVER see the CEO of Citadel buy a $300 plate of spaghetti when he can obtain a $20 plate. But you will see a "oney na water" Cubanna chief priest spend N5 million to drink a bottle of wine in front of a camera because he thinks he has the money to do it and needs to show he does.

Akara from heaven, do waybill to your first lady, probably an Akara factory will be established

Chai. Please leave our local Akara alone😭😭

grandstar:
I have always wondered why Nigerians have never been adventurous with Akara.

Why not add sardines, fish, meat, or other things to the Akara, and not just pepper and onions? It would be a wonderful experience

..if all those ingredients are added..then the road side akara will be 1,000 naira for one akara in which the common man cannot afford

Even if I don't have anything to do with my money, I'd rather burn it than enrich someone who is trying to exploit people in the name of doing business.

Business that can’t be sustained for a long time in this country.

Akara is supposed to be made of beans, pepper, onion, salt and fried in oil.

Any additions such as meat, fish etc doesn’t make it Akara anymore.

The beauty of Akara is its simplicity.

Usmanovic95:
Location is just the main difference. She sited her business in an environment where the people prioritize quality over quantity.If she site it in a different location where people just want to eat whatever makes their belly full ,it will be hard to break even talk less of making profit.

..abi.. akara business like this cannot be sited in areas where poor people live..the business will close down

First Lady must be her customer, no wonder

Even if that akara is sold in jupiter ,is still expensive...we like taking advantage of one other and we call it package...how much is that chicken,seafood etc that could have made it that expensive...well certainly yahoo boys and dubious rich folks will waste such amount in the name of class ....

That is outrageous pricing

But I know someone cashing out from akara and ogi.

Fresh akara and ogi all done when you order and lot of people order it and it is cheap

they have a combo of akara, chips, bread and sauce for 9k

agbero chairman should come and collect tax .

Lekki and fake life, I'm not surprised. I wanted to wash my teeth the other day near Manor house. I walked into the building where there's no light. As asson as the gen was on, I walked into the dental suite. The guy asked name to pay 100k, on what I wash at 10k at peve dental on the main land, even with utmost care

Why do people like making a fuss over such things, the man is free to set his price to whatever he wants so long as its not a monopoly.

If you can't afford it you go buy from Iya Basirat who sells her own for N100

Wow. That is a business-oriented woman. It is all about the “ packaging “