What Is Needplug? Buy and Sell Safely Across Nigeria

Buying online in Nigeria often comes with one big worry: "If I pay, will I get what I paid for?" Selling online has its own worry: "How do I get buyers to trust me, and how do I avoid paying for a platform before I have made a sale?"

Needplug was built to answer both. It is a marketplace where you can find verified sellers and service providers near you, pay safely, and know that the seller only gets paid when you have received what you bought. It works anywhere in Nigeria, from Lagos to Abuja, right in your phone browser.

Here is how it works, whether you are buying or selling.

Needplug in one sentence

Find a verified seller near you, pay safely, and the seller only gets paid when you've received what you bought.

That is the whole idea. Everything else on Needplug is there to make that sentence true for every order.

What you can find on Needplug

Needplug is not just for one type of product. In one place you can find:

• Products from shops and from individuals selling from home: food, fashion, shoes, phones and gadgets, beauty products, home items and more
• Bookable services such as cleaning, laundry and fumigation, plus hair, nails, beauty and spa appointments, and photography
• Event tickets, both free and paid
• E-books and digital downloads
• Cars, property and livestock, where you can arrange a viewing before you commit

Items show their condition, Brand new, Foreign used, Nigerian used or Refurbished, so you know exactly what you are getting.

For buyers: why shop on Needplug

Verified sellers you can recognise

Sellers on Needplug can confirm their identity with their NIN and a quick face check. Sellers who complete verification carry a verified badge on their shop. Before you buy, look for the badge.

Your money is safe until you get your item

When you pay on Needplug, your money is not sent straight to the seller. Needplug holds it while your order is in progress. When you collect your item, it is delivered to you, or the service is done, you give the seller your order code. Only then does the seller get paid.

If something goes wrong with your order, you can ask for a refund. Read how buyer protection and the order code work for the full step-by-step.

Sellers near you first

Pick your area, and Needplug shows you sellers close to you first. That means quicker pickups, cheaper delivery and the option to see things in person.

Pickup or delivery, your choice

You can collect from the seller, or have the seller deliver to you where they offer delivery. Delivery is handled by the seller, not by Needplug. The delivery fee is shown before you pay, and some sellers deliver for free.

Clear prices, no surprises

What you pay is simple: the item price, any delivery fee, and a small buyer protection fee. All of it is shown before you pay. There are no hidden charges.

Easy ways to pay

• Bank transfer works for any amount.
• Card works for physical orders, bookings and tickets up to ₦50,000. Bigger orders use bank transfer.
• Digital products can be paid for by card at any amount, including from abroad.

Browse first, sign in later

You don't need an account to look around. Browse as much as you like, and sign in with your email or Google only when you are ready to pay.

For sellers: why open a shop on Needplug

Selling is free

There is no subscription and no commission. You keep your full price on every order. Verification is free too: the NIN check and the CAC business check cost you nothing. See why selling on Needplug is free.

Two ways to sell

• Shop: for businesses, with up to 1,000 items.
• Sell from home: for individuals clearing out items or starting small, with up to 10 items.

Your own shop link

Every shop gets its own link, like yourname.needplug.shop. Put it in your WhatsApp status, your Instagram bio and your TikTok profile, so customers can see everything you sell and pay safely in one place.

You handle delivery your way

You decide where you deliver: chosen states or all of Nigeria. Set your own delivery fee or offer free delivery, and add your rider's details. Buyers can also pick up from you.

Get paid safely

The buyer's money is held while the order is in progress. Once the buyer gives you the order code, you enter it, and your money is sent to your bank.

Tools that grow with you

• Wholesale: set wholesale prices, minimum orders and approved resellers
• Import your catalogue from Excel or CSV
• Record a sale for offline sales, so your stock stays correct
• Bookings for service providers
• Event ticketing with attendee lists and check-in (organisers are paid after the event)
• Order chat with buyers
• New-order alerts: add the seller dashboard to your phone's home screen and it sends you notifications

No app download needed

Needplug works in any phone browser. You can add it to your home screen so it opens like an app. No storage space, no waiting for downloads.

Getting started

If you are buying: go to needplug.com, pick your area and start browsing.

If you are selling: go to needplug.com/join, create your account, tell us whether you are a shop or selling as yourself, and open your shop from your dashboard. Our step-by-step guide to opening a free online shop walks you through it.

Need help setting up? The Needplug team can set up your shop for you, free. Chat with us on WhatsApp at +234 702 529 5245.

Quick questions

Does Needplug deliver orders?

No. Sellers handle their own delivery, or you can pick up from them. You will see the delivery fee before you pay.

Do sellers pay to use Needplug?

No. There is no subscription and no commission.

What does "verified" mean?

The seller has confirmed their identity with their NIN and a face check. Verified sellers show a badge on their shop.

Is Needplug only for Lagos?

No. Needplug works anywhere in Nigeria.

Buying? Start at needplug.com. Selling? Open your free shop at needplug.com/join.