A new Nigerian e-commerce platform, 2Clicks, is positioning itself to address some of the major challenges limiting online shopping growth in the country by introducing stricter seller verification processes, removing listing charges for merchants and deploying artificial intelligence solutions to improve consumer confidence.
The platform’s approach comes at a time when competition is growing rapidly within Nigeria’s digital commerce space, as online marketplaces seek to attract millions of small businesses looking for affordable ways to reach customers beyond traditional markets.
With Nigeria’s e-commerce sector projected to record significant growth in the coming years, industry players continue to identify trust, fraud prevention and seller credibility as some of the biggest barriers to wider adoption of online shopping.
To address these concerns, 2Clicks said it has introduced a multi-layer verification system requiring all sellers on its platform to confirm their identities through either the National Identification Number (NIN) or Bank Verification Number (BVN).
Sellers seeking to obtain the platform’s “Verified Seller” badge are subjected to additional checks, including facial video verification and submission of government-issued identification documents.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos, the Country Manager of 2Clicks, Bakare Olaoluwa, said the company adopted security measures similar to those used in the financial technology sector to build stronger relationships between buyers and sellers.
“We have introduced fintech-level Know Your Customer processes because trust is critical in e-commerce. These measures help us verify sellers’ identities and improve confidence on the platform,” Olaoluwa told reporters.
Beyond strengthening security, the marketplace is also adopting a free-listing model aimed at reducing the financial barriers that prevent many entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, from participating in online commerce.
Under the model, individuals and businesses can upload unlimited products without paying mandatory subscription or listing fees. Merchants who want additional exposure can subscribe to premium services designed to improve product visibility and ranking within search results.
“Our philosophy is to significantly improve the way Nigerians buy and sell online. Anyone can join our marketplace and list as many products as they want for free, whether they are a professional retailer, a university student running a small business or someone who simply wants to sell an item they no longer need,” Olaoluwa said.
He explained that the strategy was developed to open up digital commerce opportunities for more Nigerians by removing cost-related obstacles that often discourage micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from moving their businesses online.
The platform is also incorporating artificial intelligence tools to improve the shopping experience. According to the company, the technology helps personalise product recommendations, enhance product images and improve search accuracy, making it easier for customers to find relevant items while helping sellers connect with potential buyers.
Olaoluwa disclosed that 2Clicks had recorded more than 100,000 downloads and over 150,000 product listings approximately two months after its launch. He added that the platform entered Google’s top 10 shopping applications in Nigeria within weeks of its public release, highlighting the growing competition among digital marketplaces seeking to capture both merchants and consumers.
He said the company prioritised onboarding sellers before launching major consumer-focused campaigns to ensure that buyers would have access to a wide range of products from the outset.
“We wanted to make sure shoppers would find enough variety on the platform before aggressively targeting buyers,” he said, adding that the marketplace is currently experiencing thousands of new users daily and has ambitions to become one of Nigeria’s largest online commerce platforms.
The platform also allows buyers to search for products based on location and encourages direct interaction between customers and sellers. In some cases, users are advised to inspect goods physically before completing payment, a measure the company believes can further reduce concerns surrounding online transactions.
With trust, affordability and technology at the centre of its strategy, 2Clicks said it aims to contribute to the expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy while creating a more accessible marketplace for businesses and consumers.