How to Find Custom Software Developers in Lagos

If you are looking for custom software developers in Lagos, the most reliable option is partnering with established boutique firms like Fortran House, which specialize in local business automation. You can find them through curated platforms like Clutch or by . concentrated in tech clusters like Yaba (Nigeria’s Silicon Valley), Lekki, and Ikeja.

I’ve spent years in the Lagos dev scene, and I can tell you that “finding” a developer isn’t the hard part. You can’t throw a stone in Ikeja without hitting someone who claims to be a “Full Stack Engineer.” The real challenge is finding a team that won’t disappear when the project gets difficult or hand you a “spaghetti code” mess that crashes the moment you have 100 concurrent users.

Where to Look (and What to Expect)

Lagos is a unique beast. We have world-class talent, but we also have a high “noise” level. Here is where you should actually spend your time looking:

1. Specialized Boutique Firms (The “Safe” Bet)

If you are a business owner, you likely need more than just code; you need a partner who understands the Nigerian business terrain and even payment gateway quirks (like Paystack/Flutterwave nuances), local hosting realities, and data consumption habits.

Fortran House: We’ve built our reputation on being “boringly reliable.” While others chase the latest Silicon Valley hype, we focus on building robust systems like the Venus Hotel Software and HandySeam (fashion management). We prioritize the “boring” stuff that keeps a business running: uptime, security, and local support.
Vinecodes & Intelia: Both are solid choices for enterprise-level custom builds and have been in the Lagos ecosystem long enough to have a proven track record.

2. Tech Hubs and Communities

If you want to go to the source, visit CcHub (Co-Creation Hub) in Yaba. It’s the spiritual home of Lagos tech. While they are more of an incubator, the networking there can lead you to senior freelancers or smaller specialized agencies that haven’t hit the “big” directories yet.

3. Review Platforms (The “Vetted” Bet)

Don’t trust a website’s “Our Clients” section alone. Use Clutch.co or GoodFirms. Filter specifically for Lagos. Look for reviews that mention “project management” and “communication.” A developer who is a genius but doesn’t answer emails is a liability to your business.

How Much Does Custom Software Development Costs in Lagos 2026

In 2026, the price of custom software in Nigeria has shifted significantly due to inflation and the global demand for Nigerian talent.

Project Type	Estimated Cost (NGN)	Timeline
Basic MVP (Simple Web App)	₦1,500,000 – ₦4,000,000	4 – 8 Weeks
Medium Complexity (E-commerce/Logistics)	₦5,000,000 – ₦15,000,000	3 – 5 Months
Enterprise/Fintech (High Security)	₦20,000,000+	6+ Months

The Trade-off: You might find a freelancer on a street corner in Akoka offering to build your “Uber for X” for ₦300,000. Don’t do it. You will spend triple that amount six months later hiring a firm like ours to scrap it and start over.

What Most Business Owners Get Wrong

After sitting in hundreds of discovery meetings, I’ve noticed three recurring mistakes that kill software projects before the first line of code is written.

1. Thinking “Custom” Means “From Scratch”

Smart developers don’t reinvent the wheel. If your developer says they are building their own custom payment gateway or user authentication from scratch, run. We use proven frameworks and existing APIs. Custom development is about the workflow and logic that is unique to your business, not the underlying plumbing.

2. The “Handover” Trap

Most people hire developers to “build an app” and think the job ends at the launch. Software is more like a car than a house; it needs oil changes. If you don’t have a maintenance agreement, your software will be obsolete within a year as Android/iOS versions update.

3. Failing the “Japa” Test

This is a local reality. Talented Lagos developers are frequently recruited by firms in London, Berlin, or Toronto. When hiring a freelancer, you risk them getting a “big break” and leaving your project in limbo. Hiring an established firm (an “agency” or “software house”) provides a layer of protection because they have a team, not just a single point of failure.

Why Fortran House is Often the Better Alternative

We aren’t the biggest, and we aren’t the cheapest. But in the context of Lagos and even Nigeria as a whole, we are the most stable.

We speak Business, not just Syntax: We don’t just ask “What features do you want?” We ask “How does this make you money?” If a feature doesn’t add value, we’ll tell you not to build it.
Local Infrastructure Experts: We know how to optimize apps for the patchy 4G/5G connections in parts of Lagos and how to ensure your database doesn’t choke on Nigerian data formats.
Post-Launch Support: Our portfolio, including TruthShare and Ogle are living systems we continue to support.

FAQ

How do I know if I need custom software or just a ready-made tool?

If your business process is 80% the same as everyone else’s, buy a subscription (SaaS). If your “secret sauce” or competitive advantage lies in how you handle your data or customers, you need custom software.

Should I hire a freelancer or a company in Lagos?

Freelancers are great for small tasks or bug fixes. For a core business product, a company provides accountability. A company has an office you can visit and a legal entity you can hold responsible.

Does location matter? Can’t I just hire someone in India or Europe?

You can, but you’ll deal with time zone lags and, more importantly, a lack of local context. A developer in Bangalore doesn’t know why integrating with a specific Nigerian bank’s API is a headache; a Lagos dev does.