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The short answer
Okrika traders buy sealed bales of used clothing from bale dealers, sort each bale into grades after opening it, and price pieces by grade, so profit depends on how many first-grade pieces the bale holds. In the labelled example below, a ₦250,000 bale of 200 shirts earns about ₦153,000 after sorting and costs. Note that second-hand clothing is on Nigeria's absolute import prohibition list, which is a risk every trader in the chain carries.
Okrika, also called thrift or bend-down select, is used clothing sold in markets, from stalls and increasingly online. Buyers like it because good brands and fabrics can be found far below the price of new clothes. Traders like it because one bale can be turned into hundreds of sales. The trade also sits awkwardly with the law, and anyone starting should understand that before putting money in.
The legal position
According to the US International Trade Administration's summary of Nigeria's rules (updated April 2025), second-hand clothing is on Nigeria's absolute import prohibition list. In practice bales are widely sold in Nigerian markets, but goods that entered against the list can be seized at any point, including from warehouses and shops, and a trader has no remedy for seized stock. This is information, not legal advice; check the current list and understand where your bales came from. See how the import prohibition lists work.
How bales and grades work
- Bale
- A compressed, sealed pack of used clothing of one type (for example men's shirts, children's wear, jeans, bedsheets), sold by weight or by piece count.
- Grade on the bale
- Dealers describe bales by quality, often first grade or "cream", second grade and mixed. A bale's grade is the dealer's description, not a guarantee.
- Grade after opening
- Traders sort every bale into their own grades: A (like new, good brands), B (good, minor wear), C (worn but wearable) and rejects.
Bale prices depend on the clothing type, the claimed grade, the source country and the exchange rate, and we found no official or reliable published price list, so this article uses labelled examples only. Ask several bale dealers for the same type and grade, and buy from one who will let you see bales opened, or who has a record of replacing poor bales.
Opening and sorting
- Open the bale in front of witnesses or on video, especially if buyers have paid in advance for first picks.
- Count pieces and sort by grade on clean sheets.
- Set aside pieces that need washing, ironing or small repairs.
- Note the split by grade in a book: over several bales this tells you which dealer and bale type pays best.
Many traders sell first picks of grade A to regular buyers within hours of opening, at the highest price, then display the rest. This rewards loyalty and turns stock into cash quickly.
Profit per bale: a worked example
| Grade | Pieces | Example price each | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 60 | ₦4,000 | ₦240,000 |
| B | 90 | ₦2,000 | ₦180,000 |
| C | 40 | ₦700 | ₦28,000 |
| Rejects | 10 | ₦0 | ₦0 |
| Total | 200 | ₦448,000 |
- Bale: ₦250,000. Transport to your stall: ₦10,000.
- Washing and ironing grade A and B: ₦15,000.
- Share of stall rent and market levy for the period: ₦20,000.
- Total cost: ₦295,000.
- Profit on the bale: ₦448,000 − ₦295,000 = ₦153,000, before your time.
Now change one number. If the same bale had only 30 grade A pieces and 120 grade B, sales would be (30 × ₦4,000) + (120 × ₦2,000) + ₦28,000 = ₦388,000, and profit would fall to ₦93,000. The grade split, not the bale price, decides your month.
Pricing and selling
- Price grade A by the brand and condition buyers can see; display it separately.
- Hold grade B at a steady price and use it for bundles (three for a set price).
- Clear grade C fast at low prices rather than storing it.
- Sell online too: photograph grade A pieces and post them before the market opens (see selling thrift online).
Records, registration and growing
Most okrika traders run on memory and a notebook. Writing down three numbers for every bale changes that: what it cost in total, how many pieces fell into each grade, and how long it took to sell out. After five or six bales you will know which dealer and which clothing type earns most per week, not just per bale, and you can stop buying the rest.
If you grow beyond a stall, into an online page, a shop or supplying other traders, register a business name so customers pay an account in that name and you can open a business account. The Corporate Affairs Commission's fee schedule gazetted on 29 May 2025 lists business name registration with certified copies at ₦20,000 and name reservation at ₦1,000.
Keep a cash reserve equal to at least one bale. A single poor bale is normal in this trade; it should cost you a month's profit, not the business. Keeping stock money apart from household money makes that easier (see separating shop money and home money).
What to check first
- You understand the absolute prohibition on second-hand clothing imports and the risk of seizure.
- Which clothing types sell in your area and at what prices, by walking the market.
- Two or three bale dealers' prices and their policy on poor bales.
- Where you will wash, iron and store stock.
- How much you can lose on a bad bale without stopping the business.
Where Pryme fits
Buyers who pay for first picks in advance can pay through bank-transfer checkout on a Pryme Business Account, which is free and matches each payment to the buyer. Keeping takings in a Flexible Savings Box between bales separates stock money from spending.
Questions people ask
How much is a bale of okrika in Nigeria?
It depends on clothing type, claimed grade, source and the exchange rate, and there is no reliable published list. Ask several bale dealers for the same type and grade. The article's ₦250,000 bale is an example, not a price.
How much profit can I make on one bale of okrika?
It depends on the grade split after opening. In the labelled example, 200 shirts gave ₦448,000 in sales and ₦153,000 profit; with fewer grade A pieces, profit fell to ₦93,000.
Is okrika illegal in Nigeria?
According to the US ITA summary updated April 2025, second-hand clothing is on Nigeria's absolute import prohibition list. Bales are widely sold, but goods that entered against the list can be seized.
What is first grade okrika?
Dealers use first grade or cream for bales they say contain mostly near-new pieces. It is a description, not a guarantee; traders sort every bale themselves after opening.
Sources
- US International Trade Administration: Nigeria, Prohibited and Restricted Imports (published 6 Jun 2023, updated 10 Apr 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Corporate Affairs Commission: New Schedule of Fees (Gazette No. 92, Vol. 112, 29 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.