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How to Buy for Family in Nigeria from the UK or USA

You're in London, Houston or Dublin, and Mama needs a new phone, or the house needs a gas cooker before Christmas. Instead of sending cash and hoping it's spent on the right thing, you can buy the item online and have it delivered to their door in Nigeria. Here's how to do it smartly, safely, and at a real discount.

Updated 17 October 2026

1. Why buy the item instead of sending cash?

• You know exactly what they get. The money goes on the phone or the rice, not on something else.
• It's delivered. Your family doesn't need to travel to a market or deal with sellers.
• You can catch real promos. Nigerian shops run frequent sales, and a good deal in Naira can be great value in pounds or dollars.

2. Find the deal first

Start on our deals page. We collect promos from Nigerian online shops every few hours, and filter out "discounts" that look like a made-up old price. Use the search box (try "phone", "rice" or "cooker") and the category buttons to narrow it down, then tap the deal to open it on the shop's own website.

Tap the ♡ on deals you like. They're saved under ♥ Saved so you can compare later, or share them with family to choose together.

3. Check the discount is real

Some sellers set a high "old price" so the discount looks bigger than it is. Before you buy:

• Compare the same item on two or three shops.
• Be careful when the discount looks extremely large compared with similar products.
• Read our guides on spotting a real discount and checking Jumia "old prices".

4. How to pay from abroad

This is where most people get stuck. You have a few options:

• Try your UK, US or European card at checkout. Some Nigerian stores accept international cards and some may decline them, and this can change. Try a small order first, and let your bank know you're making a payment to Nigeria so it isn't blocked.
• Pay on delivery, with money you send ahead. Your family selects "pay on delivery" (where available) and you send them the money. It's simple, but make sure the amount is clear and the item is checked before paying.
• Gift cards or vouchers. Some services sell Nigerian shopping gift cards (for example, Jumia gift cards have been available through international top-up services). Your family can then choose what they need. Check the service is legitimate and the card works before buying a large amount.
• A trusted person in Nigeria. A sibling or friend pays on their card and you refund them. It's old-school, but it works.

5. Get the delivery right

• Use your family member's name and active Nigerian phone number. The delivery rider will call them.
• Write a clear address with a landmark ("opposite the filling station", "behind St Mary's Church").
• Outside Lagos and Abuja, delivery can take longer. If a pickup station is near them, it can be faster.
• Tell them what's coming, so they don't refuse a parcel they weren't expecting.

6. Popular things to buy for family

• Phones and accessories: phones, power banks and earbuds. See our phone sale checklist before buying.
• Groceries in bulk: bags of rice, cooking oil, pasta by the carton, beverages.
• Home and kitchen: gas cookers, blenders, freezers, fans.
• Festive and school season: clothes and gifts for December, school items for January.

7. Stay safe

• Prefer official stores or highly rated sellers on big shopping sites.
• Be wary of WhatsApp or Instagram sellers who ask for a bank transfer before delivery.
• Keep your order confirmation and check the shop's returns policy in case something arrives faulty.
• Read our safe shopping guide for more tips.

8. A quick note on exchange rates

Prices on Nigerian shops are in Naira, and the exchange rate moves often. Before you buy, check today's rate so you know what you're really paying in pounds, dollars or euros. A deal that was great last month may be even better, or worse, today.