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Jumia’s Nigeria Food Index Shows Growth in Online Delivery

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Jumia has published its first Nigeria Food Index, showing the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on food trends in Nigeria.

The report, released over the weekend, shows that the online food delivery is changing habits in unexpected ways for businesses and consumers due to the pandemic.

It further shows that the growing popularity of fast food, coupled with the growing trends for convenience and value for money, have opened up opportunities for the food market in Nigeria.

The report indicates that the country’s agricultural sector experienced a major boom in 2019, significantly responsible for the 90.23 percent contribution made by non-oil sectors to Nigeria’s GDP.

The index further shows that the food and grocery retail market had total revenues of $44.9 billion, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7 percent in the last eight years.

Similarly, the report indicates that overall grocery retailing continues to expand, as consumers seek comfort and convenience when shopping for food. The food segment was the market’s most lucrative, with total revenues of $33.7 billion, equivalent to 75 percent of the market’s overall value.

Also, online food delivery is gaining momentum through companies such as Jumia Food. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for food rose significantly, especially online food delivery as a result of the lockdown and social distancing guidelines. This was because many people relied heavily on food delivery as opposed to physical shopping in grocery markets.

The report highlighted two major drivers of the growth observed in 2020 – demography and the COVID-19 lockdowns. While with a growing population averaging 18 years old, a new generation of Nigerian middle class consumers are spending more money online on food and grocery services, the lockdowns induced by the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to this evolution in habits.

The report further highlighted that, while most restaurants are popular in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan, Lagos leads in terms of volume of online food orders. It also shows, among others, that pizza, Chinese and shawarma are the most promising cuisines; lunch leads in the time of orders with 65 percent; weekdays record the biggest volume in orders, peaking on Wednesday at 16 percent; males place more orders (56 percent) than females (44 percent); and Port Harcourt leads in delivery timing at 26 minutes.

The Index also shows that, while Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Cold Stone Creamery and Pizza Hut come out as the most popular international brands in the country due to consumers’ proclivity to chicken-related orders, Chicken Republic, The Place, Kilimanjaro, Sweet Sensation and Drumstick are the most popular local food vendors due to the affordability of their offers.

Jumia, the leading e-commerce platform in Africa, explains that the positive trend recorded in the agricultural sector offers the prospect of increased jobs, greater prosperity, reduced hunger and improved opportunities for Nigerian farmers and entrepreneurs to participate in the global economy.

Over the years, Nigeria’s growing online audience has seen an increase in international brands setting up shop to tap into the growing middle-income segment. Direct investments from players such as KFC, Cold Stone Creamery and Pizza Hut have been achieved.

Online food delivery players such as Jumia have also played a key role in shaping supply chains and opening up the markets to new entrants. Local producers and restaurants have embraced this evolution and reached new consumers as well as grown their businesses in spite of these challenging times.

“This pandemic crisis has shown the world that online food delivery is not just a commodity, but a necessity. The food business adapted quickly to the new normal, by availing contactless and cashless deliveries,” said Shreenal Ruparelia, Chief Commercial Officer, Jumia Food.

“We also started to provide support to local food vendors to keep their businesses running during this difficult time. With our food partners, we will continue to deploy capabilities across the food value chain to ensure consumers buy food online safely and at the right price, in line with the theme of this year’s World Food Day celebration of ‘Grow, Nourish, Sustain Together,’” added Shreenal.

Nigeria’s population is expected to double over the next 30 years at a growth rate averaging around 2.3% a year. With its diversification plan from oil production, the country is set to witness growth in a large consumer market, such as the food and grocery retail market.

Jumia Food is Africa’s largest Food delivery company operating in 9 countries in the continent. The consumers can order restaurant meals, groceries, drinks, pharmacies, and supermarkets, having then delivered in less than 45 minutes.


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Meta to Begin Layoffs Across All Operations from Today

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Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to implement company-wide layoffs starting Monday, February 10, 2025.

Meta to Begin Layoffs Across All Operations from Today

Notifications will begin at 5 a.m. local time in most countries, including the United States.

However, due to local regulations, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt from these cuts.

Staff in over a dozen countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa will receive their notifications between February 11 and February 18.

The layoffs are expected to affect approximately 5% of Meta’s workforce.

They will target the company’s lowest performers in what is termed “performance terminations.”

This move is part of Meta’s broader strategy to streamline operations and focus on key areas of growth.

Concurrently, Meta is expediting the hiring of machine learning engineers and other essential engineering roles.

The hiring process is scheduled to take place between February 11 and March 13, aligning with Meta’s strategic priorities for 2025.

Unlike previous company-wide layoffs, Meta plans to keep its offices open on Monday and will not issue any additional updates regarding the decisions.

The company has declined to comment further on the internal memos detailing these plans


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NEMSA, NAICOM Sign Agreement to Boost Electrical Safety, Insurance

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The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Insurance Commission to enhance electrical safety compliance in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, as well as ensure adherence to insurance policy requirements for these structures.

A statement issued by Ama Umoren, NEMSA’s Head of Communications and Protocol Unit, on Sunday in Abuja, stated that the MoU establishes a collaborative framework between NEMSA and NAICOM to ensure that as a pre-condition, all electrical installations in residential, commercial, industrial premises, hazardous locations, industries and factories are duly certified by NEMSA before the Insurance Policy is processed by all Insurance Companies.

It stated further that the partnership between NEMSA and NAICOM aligned with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the reliability and safety of Nigeria’s electricity sector.

The NEMSA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Aliyu Tukur Tahir, while speaking during the signing ceremony, emphasised the importance of this collaboration in mitigating risks associated with electrical accidents and infrastructure failures.

“This partnership with NAICOM is a significant step towards ensuring that all electricity consumers, operators, and investors adhere to the highest safety and risk management standards.

”By integrating insurance compliance into electrical safety enforcement, we are safeguarding lives, investments, and the overall integrity of the power sector,” he stated.

Tukur, who is also the Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, said going forward, ‘’It will also be a requirement by NEMSA that all Facility Applicants of its statutory inspection, testing and certification, should ensure that their Facilities are insured with Insurance Companies, for safety and mitigation of risk.”

On his part, the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Mr Olusegun Omosehin, reiterated NAICOM’s commitment to ensuring that all power sector players embrace insurance as a critical risk management tool.

“Insurance plays a crucial role in cushioning the effects of electrical hazards and infrastructure-related incidents. Through this MoU, we will work closely with NEMSA to enforce compliance with relevant insurance policies, ensuring that the power sector operates with adequate risk mitigation mechanisms in place,” he said.

The collaboration will involve joint awareness campaigns, regulatory enforcement, and information-sharing initiatives to promote electrical safety and insurance adoption across the power sector.

This strategic partnership marks a milestone in the drive to enhance safety, reliability, and sustainability within Nigeria’s electricity industry and the country at large.


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IFC Invests in Lagos Free Zone to Support Industrial Growth and Economic Diversification

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IFC has announced an equity investment of up to $50 million in Lagos Free Zone Company to support the development and expansion of Nigeria’s first deep-sea port-based, private special economic zone, the Lagos Free Zone.

This investment is designed to address critical infrastructure gaps, attract local and global businesses, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

The funds will support the first phase of the 860-hectare Lagos Free Zone, focusing on land development, industrial facilities, and logistics infrastructure.

Owned by Singapore based Tolaram,a diversified multinational group with operations across Africa, Asia, and Europe, Lagos Free Zone strategically integrated with the Lekki Deep Sea Port and will provide an integrated industrial ecosystem for efficient import and export operations, serving as a gateway for Nigeria’s integration into global value chains.

With Nigeria’s economy projected to grow by 3.7% by 2026, investments in infrastructure are vital to ensuring sustainable growth. When fully occupied, Lagos Free Zone is expected to create approximately 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, while contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP upon completion.

“This investment reflects IFC’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria. Lagos Free Zone is poised to become a transformative hub for industrial activity, driving job creation and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global markets.

“We are proud to partner with Lagos Free Zone  in building the infrastructure necessary to attract global and local businesses, enabling Nigeria to achieve its full economic potential.” said, Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director, Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa.

The investment in Lagos Free Zone also reflects IFC’s commitment to sustainable development, with a focus on green infrastructure. Approximately 15% of the investment is earmarked for climate-related initiatives, including Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE)-certified buildings and climate-resilient infrastructure.

“IFC’s support represents a significant and positive recognition of our vision to establish  Lagos Free Zone as a world-class industrial hub. This investment allows us to scale up the existing infrastructure to attract more foreign and local tenants while promoting sustainability and creating economic opportunities for Nigeria.

“Lagos Free Zone, integrated with Lekki Deep Sea Port, facilitates ease of doing business in Nigeria and supports the Federal Government of Nigeria’s drive for economic diversification and infrastructure development.

“We look forward to driving growth and delivering lasting impact through this transformative collaboration with the IFC”. Added, Adesuwa Ladoja, MD/CEO at Lagos Free Zone Company

Lagos Free Zone is already home to several manufacturing brands like Kellogg’s, Dano Milk, Colgate, BASF, ADM, and Tata International.

This investment aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and IFC’s strategic frameworks, including the World Bank Group’s Nigeria Country Partnership Framework (2021–2025) and its 2015 Climate Action Plan, both of which prioritize economic diversification, the development of competitive clusters, and investments in climate-resilient infrastructure.

By addressing infrastructure bottlenecks and enhancing connectivity, IFC’s investment in Lagos Free Zone will unlock new opportunities for businesses and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional economic leader.


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