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The short answer
Sabon Gari Market, officially the Abubakar Rimi Market, is one of Kano's busiest general markets and is commonly described as a place to buy provisions, drinks, foodstuffs, clothing, household goods and motor and machine spare parts. Most stall holders restock weekly or more often from wholesalers in the market or elsewhere in Kano, so cash flow and float matter as much as price.
Where it is and what it is called
Sabon Gari Market takes its name from the Sabon Gari area of Kano. Its formal name is the Abubakar Rimi Market, and a Daily Trust report of April 2022 refers to it as the Abubakar Rimi (Sabongari/Yankura) market. The market is commonly described as having a broad mix of goods and of traders from many parts of Nigeria.
What it sells
We have not surveyed the market stall by stall. The list below reflects how the market is commonly described by traders and shoppers; layouts shift and sections overlap.
| Section (commonly reported) | Typical goods | Who buys |
|---|---|---|
| Provisions | Noodles, sugar, milk, beverages, seasoning, toiletries | Shop owners restocking, households |
| Drinks | Soft drinks, water, malt, juices by the pack and crate | Kiosks, hotels, event caterers |
| Foodstuffs | Rice, beans, palm oil, garri, spices | Households, restaurants |
| Clothing and shoes | Ready-made clothes, second-hand clothing, footwear | Retailers, individuals |
| Household goods | Plastics, kitchenware, small electricals | Households, small shops |
| Spare parts | Motor, motorcycle, tricycle and generator parts | Mechanics, riders, transport owners |
For textiles in bulk, Kantin Kwari is the better-known market, and for grains Dawanau; see our guides to Kantin Kwari and Dawanau. For phones and electronics, shoppers commonly go to Farm Centre.
How traders restock
A typical provisions or drinks trader in Sabon Gari works on a short cycle: sell for a week, count the takings, then buy again from a distributor or wholesaler. A spare-parts trader usually holds more stock for longer because there are many part numbers. The cycle tends to look like this:
- Count stock and takings at the end of the week, separating the money for restocking from profit.
- Order from a distributor or go to a wholesaler, often paying part in cash and part by transfer.
- Arrange transport for the goods to the stall, by truck, tricycle or porter.
- Price the new stock, allowing for any price rise since the last purchase.
- Repeat, holding back some cash for levies and stall rent due during the year.
Worked example: a drinks stall's weekly cycle
These figures are invented to show the arithmetic of restocking. They are not Sabon Gari prices.
| Item | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stock bought: 60 packs at ₦4,500 | Example | ₦270,000 |
| Sold: 60 packs at ₦5,000 | Example | ₦300,000 |
| Gross margin | ₦300,000 - ₦270,000 | ₦30,000 |
| Transport to stall | Example | -₦4,000 |
| Porter and loading | Example | -₦2,000 |
| Weekly share of levies and stall rent | Example | -₦5,000 |
| Profit for the week | ₦19,000 |
₦30,000 - ₦4,000 - ₦2,000 - ₦5,000 = ₦19,000. The trader needs ₦270,000 in hand every week to buy stock again; spending any of it shrinks the next order. If the distributor's price rises to ₦4,800 a pack and the selling price cannot move, the gross margin falls to 60 x ₦200 = ₦12,000 and the week makes only ₦1,000.
Costs and risks for a stall holder
- Stall rent and association dues, agreed with the stall owner or association.
- Levies from the state and local government; see market and shop levies in Kano.
- Waste charges: Daily Trust reported in 2022 that the market had a standing order requiring traders to pay waste collection fees and that one shop owner said uncollected waste hampered customers.
- Cash risk: large sums carried for restocking. Under a December 2024 CBN circular, PoS cash-out is capped at ₦100,000 per customer per day, so large purchases are usually paid by transfer.
- Fire and flooding: ask whether the market association runs any cover or fire safety arrangement.
Tips for shoppers
- Go early in the morning on weekdays to avoid the heaviest crowds.
- Compare prices at three stalls before buying in bulk.
- For spare parts, bring the old part or its number.
- Count change and check transfer alerts on your own phone before leaving.
Keeping restock money safe
The single biggest risk for a small trader is spending restock money on household needs, then finding the next order is smaller. Count takings daily, move the restock share into a separate account or envelope, and treat it as the supplier's money, not yours. Over a year, a trader who protects the restock money can grow orders steadily even on thin margins.
Buying in bulk as a small shop owner
Many small shop owners in Kano's neighbourhoods restock from general markets rather than from distributors, because they can buy smaller quantities and pick mixed goods in one trip. A few habits make those trips cheaper: go with a written list and a budget, buy the fastest-moving items first, ask for the carton price rather than the unit price, and share transport with another shop owner from your area. Ask for a receipt or at least a written note of what you bought and at what price, so you can compare against the next trip and spot price rises early.
For the wider list of state agencies a Kano trader deals with, see doing business in Kano State.
Where Pryme fits
Traders who restock by transfer can keep restock money and profit apart in a Pryme Business Account and send to suppliers from it; see sending money. Spaces, Pryme's merchant network, currently covers Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, not Kano.
Questions people ask
What is sold in Sabon Gari market Kano?
It is commonly described as a general market for provisions, drinks, foodstuffs, clothing, household goods and spare parts for vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles and generators.
What is the real name of Sabon Gari market in Kano?
Its formal name is the Abubakar Rimi Market. Daily Trust has referred to it as the Abubakar Rimi (Sabongari/Yankura) market.
Is Sabon Gari market good for wholesale?
Many traders buy provisions and drinks by the pack or carton there. For textiles, Kantin Kwari is the main wholesale market, and for grains, Dawanau.
What days is Sabon Gari market open?
We could not confirm official opening days and hours. Ask the market association or traders you buy from.
Sources
- Daily Trust: Unresolved issues trail Kano's switch to private firm for waste management (23 Apr 2022) · accessed Oct 2026
- Techeconomy: 7 key highlights of CBN's new ₦100,000 cash-out limit for PoS transactions (Dec 2024) · 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.