Last updated 30 October 2026 · Ojawa.app, Lagos, Nigeria
Ojawa works because people trust each other enough to meet, inspect an item, and shake hands on a price. These guidelines exist to keep that true.
They apply to everyone — buyers, sellers, and anyone browsing. They form part of our Terms of Service, so breaking them can mean a listing removed, selling access suspended, or an account closed.
If you only read one section, read Staying safe. It covers the ways people get cheated and how to avoid them.
Every listing is checked automatically before it goes live. Listings that score too low are held back until they are improved. Here is what a good listing looks like.
Some of these are our rules; most are Nigerian law.
Listing any of the following will result in removal, and in serious cases immediate account closure and a report to the authorities.
A promise of guaranteed profit is the single most common vehicle for fraud on Nigerian marketplaces. Ojawa removes these on sight and does not require proof that anyone lost money first.
We do not police belief. We do prohibit selling promises no one can deliver, because that is where the harm sits.
Extra rules for particular kinds of listing.
Any job listing that asks a candidate to pay anything is removed immediately and the account suspended. This is the most common employment scam in Nigeria and Ojawa treats it as fraud, not as a listing error.
The section that matters most.
Ojawa does not hold your money and is not present at your meetup. Your safety is in your own hands, and these are the habits that protect you. Our Safety Guide lists suggested public meeting places.
Each side gets a private code. You enter the other person’s code once the handover is done.
| What they say | What is happening |
|---|---|
| “Send me your code first, then I will come” | They want the deal marked confirmed without handing anything over. Never do this. |
| “Send transport fare and I will bring it to you” | There is no item. The fare is the scam. |
| Shows you a transfer alert on their phone | Alerts are easily faked. Check your own bank balance before you release anything. |
| “Pay a deposit to reserve it” | Ojawa deals are settled in person. A deposit before meeting has no protection at all. |
| “Let us continue on WhatsApp” | Moving off Ojawa removes the record. Keep the conversation here until you meet. |
| Priced far below everything similar | Either it does not exist, it is stolen, or it is not what the photos show. |
| “Pay a fee to be considered for the job” | No genuine employer charges to apply. Report it. |
| Pressure to decide immediately | Urgency is a tool. A real seller will let you think. |
If you are unsure, slow down. Almost every loss on a marketplace happens to someone who felt rushed.
Every listing, profile, and conversation has a report option. Use it — reports are how we find what our automated checks miss.
You can also write to info@ojawa.app.
Reports are reviewed by our team, with urgent ones first. Depending on what we find we may:
| Action | When |
|---|---|
| Edit request | A listing breaks a standard but was clearly a mistake |
| Remove the listing | It breaks these guidelines or the law |
| Warning | A first, non-serious breach |
| Restrict selling, bidding, or messaging | Repeated breaches, or a pattern we are investigating |
| Suspend the account | Serious breach, or repeated breaches after warning |
| Close the account permanently | Fraud, threats to safety, prohibited items, or repeat offending |
| Report to the authorities | Anything involving a crime — and always for content involving a child |
Serious cases skip the earlier steps. Fraud, threats, and prohibited items can result in immediate closure without warning.
Ọjà wa — our marketplace. Keep it worth trusting.
