ShopRite, Nigeria’s largest mall operator, has officially completed its shutdown across the country after 20 years of operation.
The closure has affected four business markets, including Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, Apapa Mall and Lekki Mall in Lagos, and Dugbe and Ring Road malls in Ibadan and lastly Kaduna branch
The shutdown is estimated to have wiped out approximately ₦1.4 trillion in economic activity, impacting thousands of employees, suppliers, and small businesses that relied on ShopRite’s operations.
Industry analysts attribute the closure to prolonged financial strain, recurring inventory shortages, and macroeconomic challenges, including foreign exchange shortages, rising import tariffs, and logistics costs.
Affected Locations:
- Ado Bayero Mall, Kano: Closed since January 2024
- Apapa Mall, Lagos: Closed around August 2025
- Lekki Mall, Lagos: Closed in 2025
- Dugbe and Ring Road malls, Ibadan: Closed in 2025
ShopRite’s exit has left a significant commercial gap, with smaller retailers and businesses reporting sharp declines in sales and customer traffic. The company insists it’s a “business model reset” rather than a permanent exit, but no clear timeline has been provided for resuming operations. The Northern Star online newspapers revealed that over 2,000 staff lost their job.
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