Bokku Really Boku for Lagos

By Simbo Olorunfemi 



I finally got a chance to visit Bokku on my last trip to Lagos. I didn't even realise on time that one was in my neighbourhood until a few days to my departure from Lagos.


I had heard so much about Bokku, given the organic love and following it has enjoyed from Lagosians, but I didn't realise how ubiquitous the stores have become in Lagos (or is it becoming?) until I tapped on Google for help in locating the nearest one. It was only then I realised that Bokku don boku for Lagos.


This love affair between Bokku and Lagosians is quite interesting and intriguing. I cannot recollect if there has been such an affair. What is it about Bokku that has inspired such love?


What is it doing remarkably differently from the ShopRites, JustRites, Addides, Ebeanos, Goodies, and others that have been around longer to be so top of the mind for many? Is it just because the goods on sale boku as it is claimed or there is more to it? Is it the Bread some claim to spend valuable time queuing up for that is driving the love?


What is it really about Bokku that it has been able to scale at such a scale with almost 60 stores in only 2 years of operation in Lagos, having started on September 30, 2022, even with the obvious cost of living crisis in the last one year?


Bokku, from what it says about itself, is a "Hard Discount Grocery Chain",  designed after a similar model of hard discount chain in Germany. It sells "a limited number of carefully chosen grocery products", which "are of high-quality and cover 80% of what the average Nigerian household needs every day". Bokku is all about high quality and low prices, we are told, beating its chest that its products are considerably cheaper than what you will find in the open markets!


Anyway, having heard so much about Bokku. About the Bread, and even about controversial bag policy, I just had to visit. I went prepared with my cloth bag, coincidentally one that I was given by an NGO from Germany, the place I first experienced the Bokku policy of payment for plastic bags to discourage its use.


Indeed, most of the goods were reasonably priced even if I found some costing higher than I buy them in Abuja. At the till, the Cashier, seeing that I had quite a few items punched in one bag for me without even asking. I had to decline, reminding him of their policy, letting him know that I am a believer and promoter of the policy of doing away with plastic bags.


Having read complaints from other people about the policy of charging for bags, I had to pay close attention, and was quite impressed that the policy was clearly explained to customers on boards strategically placed. 


Well, those who have complained might not have seen it coming with the mind of what they are already used to. People have also complained about having to pack the items into bags rather than having that done by Cashiers as obtainable in other stores.


I think it is more of the fact that we are already more conditioned to being served in public places than anything else. It wasn't that a big deal to me. I like that they also provide cartons. But they can do well to make the table bigger and provide more room for customers to be able to pack their items, without having to wait too long for others, as was the case on one of my visits.


The Bread? It is okay. Not sure it is out of this world, as some think it is. What I don't get is how it is that the regular loaf of Bread, even the Olde English one, is considerably cheaper than the ones in Abuja.


Well, I like the Bokku vision. Whoever is behind the project is quite daring, and that I love. Someone says the vision is to have stores in every neighbourhood in Lagos in no time so that Bokku go boku for Lagos. Great.


* 19. 10. 2024