Mile12 market was established and created in 1977; a decision by the state government during the preparation of Lagos Black Art Festival to relocate traders from Iddo-Oyingbo road to Ikorodu Road, primarily to ease the traffic congestion during the festival. Over the years the market has grown from being just an open market to a bounty community of traders, farmers, aggregators and transporters from diverse ethnicity. Popularly known as the largest market for fresh foods and vegetables in West Africa, and being the largest Farm-to-market bazaar, Mile12 Market prides itself in affordable and varieties of commodities; a true reflection of smallholder farmers survival, and a melting point for semi-skilled labour who earned less than $1 per day.
SOCIO-POLITICAL
Mile12 Market is estimated to have over 35,000 regular traders daily trading on different commodities, including traders from neighboring countries like Togo, Benin, Ghana and Cameroon. Mile12 market is considered to be a melting point for diverse ethnicity and tribes who engage in various activities and transactions. For example – Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Kanuri, TIV, Ibiobio, Calabar,Igbira, Itshekiri, Ijaw, Idoma,Fulani etc. various tribes belong to the same association, because they trade in the same kind of farm produce.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
The market serves as an economic hub for over 25 Million people in Lagos and her suburbs, Supplying affordable food items to every household, Corporate Kitchens, Hotels, Eateries and schools. Mile12 market is synonymous to survival; it’s another home for semi-skilled labour who partake of daily activities for wages. noticeable among them are carriers, popularly called me-kondo, Drivers, rubber-boot lenders, cart-pushers, pure-water sellers, food vendors, and levy collectors.
Looking at the sustainability of subsistence farming in Nigeria, one can suffice to say that the market serves as a trading floor for smallholder farmers across Nigeria who brings their farm produce in exchange for Money.