Facebook Marketplace records more than 835,000 new listings monthly in Nigeria, with electronics, fashion and household goods accounting for a substantial share of products offered on the platform, as the service marks its 10th anniversary.
According to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, electronics generate more than 180,000 listings monthly, while home items and fashion each account for over 110,000 listings. Home improvement products contribute more than 40,000 listings every month.
The figures highlight the range of products Nigerians advertise through the platform, which allows users to discover items, contact sellers and explore buying and selling opportunities within their communities.
Launched in 2016, Facebook Marketplace was developed after Meta observed that users were already buying and selling products through Facebook Groups. The company subsequently created a dedicated space to make it easier for users to find items and connect with prospective buyers and sellers.
Oluwasola Obagbemi, head of communications for sub-Saharan Africa at Meta, said the platform was designed around existing user behaviour, with its 10th anniversary providing an opportunity to recognise the communities and individuals who use it to trade goods.
“People come to Facebook to connect over the things that matter to them, and buying and selling is part of that everyday activity. We built Marketplace because people were already trading in Facebook Groups, and we wanted to give that a dedicated home where it’s simpler to discover products and connect with buyers and sellers,” Obagbemi said.
She added that Meta was continuing to incorporate safety tools and share guidance to help users conduct transactions more securely.
For buyers, Marketplace provides a channel to search for specific products, compare available options and communicate directly with sellers to obtain further information before making a purchase. Sellers, meanwhile, can advertise items and reach potential customers who may be interested in their products.
The platform covers several categories, including electronics, clothing, furniture and home improvement supplies, offering users an avenue to sell new or used goods and search for items without relying exclusively on conventional retail outlets.
However, transactions between individual buyers and sellers also expose users to potential fraud and other risks, making verification and caution important when arranging purchases.
Meta advises users to review sellers’ profiles, ratings and other listings before proceeding with a transaction. For physical exchanges, buyers and sellers are encouraged to meet in public, well-lit locations during daylight hours and inform someone they trust about their plans.
Buyers are also advised to inspect products before making payments where possible, avoid clicking on payment links shared in private conversations and use official websites or applications when accessing payment services. Suspicious listings and accounts should be reported through Facebook’s reporting tools.
As Facebook Marketplace enters its second decade, its Nigerian listing figures offer an indication of the scale of product discovery and person-to-person trading taking place on the platform. Its continued relevance will depend not only on the range of goods available but also on users’ ability to conduct transactions with greater confidence and security.
