73% of Nigerian high earners in the UK spend over £200 monthly at African businesses per OhentPay report

There’s a thriving economy within the Nigerian diaspora in the UK that many people outside the community are unaware of, and the numbers reveal just how significant it is.
As debates about the economic contributions of immigrants continue in the UK, one aspect often gets overlooked: the internal economies that immigrant communities create. These aren’t just consumer patterns. They’re entire business ecosystems built on cultural connection, trust, and shared identity.

OhentPay, a leading remittance app, surveyed 655 Nigerians across the UK to understand their spending habits at African-owned businesses. The findings reveal a community that actively invests in its own economic infrastructure, and this investment grows in proportion to increasing income.

Key insights on African business spending from OhentPay’s report
Seventy-seven per cent spend between £50 and £500 Monthly at African businesses

Seventy-seven per cent of Nigerians in the UK spend between £50 and £500 every month at African-owned businesses. Only 6 per cent say they don’t shop at African or Nigerian businesses at all.

With hundreds of thousands of Nigerians living in the UK, that’s millions of pounds circulating within the community every single month. This is consistent, substantial spending that fuels restaurants, grocery stores, fashion boutiques, beauty salons, and service providers.

What’s particularly striking is how consistent this spending is across income levels. Even those earning less find ways to direct a portion of their budget towards African businesses.

Food and groceries dominate the spending. African food shops are doing massive business, stocking everything from egusi and ogbono to plantain and yam. For Nigerians in the UK, access to authentic ingredients isn’t a luxury. It’s how many people stay connected to their culture. Cooking Nigerian food at home is a ritual, and African grocery stores make that possible.

Restaurants come next. Whether it’s a proper sit-down spot or a small chop joint, Nigerian restaurants have become social hubs. They’re where people meet friends, celebrate milestones, and feel at home without flying 6,000 kilometres.

Fashion, beauty, and service businesses like hairdressers, event planners, and photographers also pull significant spending. These businesses aren’t competing with mainstream UK providers. They’re filling gaps that mainstream businesses can’t or won’t fill.

High earners spend more, not less

Among Nigerians earning over £125,000 a year, 73 per cent spend more than £200 monthly at African-owned businesses. This challenges a common assumption that as people earn more and integrate deeper into UK society, they drift away from African businesses.

The opposite is happening. High earners have more disposable income, and a significant portion of it goes back into African-owned shops, restaurants, and services.

Success doesn’t make people abandon their community. If anything, it strengthens their connection to it. The jollof rice at that spot in Peckham still tastes like home. The tailor in Dalston still understands how you want your aso ebi to fit. The beauty supply store in Brixton still stocks the exact products your hair needs.

These are experiences rooted in shared culture and trust. And when you’re earning well, you can afford to support these businesses more generously.

Men spend more than women at African businesses
Gender also plays a role in spending patterns. About 35 per cent of men spend between £201 and over £500 at African-owned businesses, compared to 26 per cent of women. Women are more likely to spend in the moderate £50 to £200 range, at 55 per cent.

This could reflect a few things. Men might be spending more on dining out at African restaurants. Women, who still handle the bulk of household shopping in many families, might be spreading their spending more evenly across different types of businesses, African and otherwise.

But regardless of gender, the overall trend is the same. Nigerians in the UK are actively choosing to spend within their community, and that spending increases as income grows.

Bottom line

Nigerian spending at African businesses is driven by a combination of cultural identity, quality, and community trust.

When you walk into an African-owned business, there’s an unspoken understanding. The owner knows your background, your expectations, and your sense of humour. There’s less explaining to do, less cultural translation. You’re not the odd one out. You’re home.

In conclusion, the OhentPay UK–Nigeria Remittance Report 2025 offers a rich insight into how Nigerians earn, send, and spend, providing an inside view of the evolving financial lives of Nigerians as they build stability across two homes.