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The short answer
A serviced office or co-working desk in Lagos is often worth it when it cuts your commute, gives you reliable power and internet, or helps you win and keep clients. Loans on Spaces can be used with serviced office providers that are Spaces merchants in Lagos; it fits best for a short, defined need, such as a month's desk while a contract starts paying, with the cost and repayment date read in the app before you accept.
Why Lagos workers pay for a desk
For many freelancers, remote workers and small teams in Lagos, working from home is harder than it sounds. Power cuts mean fuel for a generator; data costs climb; children, neighbours and street noise interrupt calls. A serviced office or co-working space bundles power, internet, a quiet room and somewhere presentable to meet a client.
The other reason is traffic. A two-hour commute from Ikorodu or Ajah to an office in Victoria Island costs time and fares every day. A desk closer to home can be cheaper than the commute it replaces.
Power at home in Lagos
Homes in Lagos are supplied by two distribution companies, Eko Electricity and Ikeja Electric, depending on where you live. Supply varies by area and by the service band your feeder is placed on. If you pay for a high band and do not get the hours it promises, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission's complaints procedure starts with a complaint to your DisCo and can escalate to the NERC forum office. Fixing that may cost less than a desk, so check it first.
Where the spaces are
Serviced offices and co-working hubs are spread across the city. Yaba, with its tech scene, has many. Ikeja, close to the airport and the state secretariat at Alausa, serves mainland businesses. Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki host the more expensive end of the market. Ask around in your own district first: a smaller space ten minutes away may serve you better than a well-known name an hour off.
Count the real comparison
The question is not whether a desk is cheap, but whether it costs less than what it replaces. Here is a worked example for a designer in Gbagada. All amounts are monthly examples.
| Working from home | Example | Co-working desk nearby | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generator fuel | ₦60,000 | Membership | ₦90,000 |
| Extra data | ₦20,000 | Transport (short trips) | ₦20,000 |
| Lost hours to outages (value) | ₦40,000 | Lunch out, some days | ₦15,000 |
| Total | ₦120,000 | Total | ₦125,000 |
On cost alone, the two are close. The difference is what the desk makes possible: two client meetings in a proper room, reliable calls, and full days of work. If that helps her win one more project a month, the desk pays for itself. If it does not, she is better off at home. For the choice between flexible and fixed plans, see day pass versus monthly membership.
What to check before you sign up
- Power hours. Ask whether power is round the clock or limited to certain hours, and what happens when the generator is off.
- Internet. Ask for the speed and whether there is a backup connection. Test it on a trial day.
- Access hours. Some spaces close early or on Sundays; check if you work late.
- Meeting rooms. Are they included, or charged by the hour?
- Notice and refunds. How much notice to leave, and whether unused days carry over.
- Security and parking. If you drive, ask whether parking is included and how late the building is staffed; if you take the bus, check the walk from the nearest stop after dark.
- Location. Time the commute at the hour you would actually travel, not at midday.
Using Loans on Spaces for a desk
Serviced offices are a supported Spaces sector, and there are Spaces merchants in Lagos. The credit is lent by Solid Allianze Microfinance Bank and can only be spent with Spaces merchants. A limit is offered based on how your account is run; you read the agreement and accept it before anything is drawn.
- Sensible
- A first month's desk while a new contract starts paying, a short project with a clear end date, or a few weeks' meeting room use for a pitch.
- Risky
- Paying every month on credit because income does not cover the desk. That is a sign the desk is not paying for itself yet.
- Ask first
- Whether the provider offers a trial day, a weekly rate or a smaller plan that suits you better.
Our guide on paying for a co-working desk with Loans on Spaces goes through the steps. Small teams weighing a private office should also read serviced offices for a small team.
Register the business, keep the paperwork
If you work for yourself, keep invoices and receipts for the desk. They support your business records and, if you register a business, form part of your expenses. A verifiable receipt generated in the Pryme app lets a partner or accountant check the payment is genuine.
Where Pryme fits
If your clients pay you from abroad, a Pryme account can receive USD, GBP or EUR with local details and hold it until you choose to Swap to naira for the desk. If you have a Loans on Spaces offer, you can use it with serviced office merchants in Spaces in Lagos, after reading and accepting the full agreement.
Questions people ask
Is co-working worth it in Lagos?
Often, if it replaces generator fuel, extra data and a long commute, or helps you win clients. Compare it with your real costs at home.
Where are co-working spaces in Lagos?
They are spread across the city, with many in Yaba, Ikeja, Victoria Island and Lekki. Look in your own district first.
Can I pay for a co-working space on credit in Lagos?
Yes, with providers that are Spaces merchants, if you have a Loans on Spaces offer and accept the agreement in the app.
What should I ask before joining a co-working space?
Ask about power hours, internet speed and backup, access hours, meeting rooms, notice periods and whether there is a trial day.
Sources
- FCCPC: Consumer rights and responsibilities · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: Digital lending regulations issued · accessed Oct 2026
- NERC: Complaints and redress procedure · 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.