Inside Nigeria’s ‘Condemned Phone’ Hawkers: The Hidden Street Economy

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A recent forum post sparked curiosity about hawkers shouting “condemn phone, condemn laptop—we buy at a good price.” These mobile buyers travel across Nigerian cities in search of broken phones, damaged laptops, and even faulty generators. They often pay as little as 500 to 1,000 naira for these items. Many devices are taken to repair markets, fixed by technicians, and resold as affordable, second-hand electronics. Items beyond repair are dismantled for parts or recycled to recover materials like copper, aluminum, and small amounts of gold. What appears as trash to most people actually fuels a hidden street economy. From city streets to repair hubs and scrap yards, this practice supports livelihoods and promotes resource recovery across Nigeria.

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