Handi, a Lagos-based technology platform connecting users with vetted service providers, has officially launched in Lagos, offering residents a new way to find and hire professionals for home, personal and business services.

The platform aims to address the challenges associated with hiring plumbers, electricians, cleaners and other service providers through informal channels such as WhatsApp groups, personal recommendations and word of mouth, where pricing, reliability and accountability can be difficult to establish.

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Unlike conventional hiring methods, Handi allows users to post a job once and receive competing quotes from screened service providers.

Users can then compare prices and ratings before selecting their preferred professional, giving them greater control over the hiring process.

Payments are held securely until the work is confirmed complete, according to the company.

The arrangement is designed to give customers greater confidence while encouraging service providers to deliver on agreed terms.

“We built Handi because we were tired of the guesswork. Every Nigerian has a story about being let down by someone they found through a group chat: the wrong price, the no-show, the job done badly with no one to hold accountable,” said Adejare Nathaniel, co-founder of Handi.

He added that the company wanted finding a service provider to feel as fast and reliable as ordering a ride.

Co-founder Kolade Bisolu said screening providers was central to the platform’s approach, stressing that speed alone would not be enough without quality assurance.

“Our focus from day one has been vetting. Speed doesn’t matter if the person showing up isn’t good at what they do,” Bisolu said, adding that providers undergo a screening process before they can offer services on the platform.

The launch comes amid the continued importance of informal businesses to Nigeria’s economy.

A report by Jobberman, produced in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, puts the informal sector’s share of Nigerian employment at 76.7%.

Moniepoint’s 2025 Informal Economy Report also identifies the South-West, including Lagos, as a major centre of informal business activity.

Despite their economic contribution, many artisans, technicians, cleaners and other service professionals still rely on informal networks to find customers and secure jobs.

Handi says its platform is designed to help bridge this gap by making service discovery more structured while giving professionals an opportunity to attract customers, build verifiable reputations and access more consistent demand.