Nigerian activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has challenged phone sellers in Nigeria over the price of the newly launched iPhone 18, saying he is prepared to import the devices himself if vendors add what he considers excessive markups.
VeryDarkMan made the threat from an Apple Store in China shortly after Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, on September 9. Social media posts quoting his video say he wants Nigerians to be able to access the devices closer to Apple’s original prices.
Why VeryDarkMan Is Targeting iPhone Prices
The VeryDarkMan iPhone 18 move continues his criticism of how some Nigerian phone sellers price new Apple products.
His argument is simple: if he can source the phones directly from an Apple Store and arrange delivery to Nigeria, he believes consumers should not have to pay extremely high reseller prices.
This is particularly relevant because Apple does not currently operate a retail Apple Store in Nigeria. Nigerians who want new iPhones therefore generally rely on authorised channels, retailers or independent importers.
But direct importation also comes with costs such as shipping, customs duties, taxes, foreign exchange and logistics. That means Apple’s international retail price cannot simply be converted into naira and treated as the final Nigerian selling price.
Apple Has Raised the Stakes
The timing gives the iPhone 18 price in Nigeria debate an extra edge. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. The new iPhone Duo begins at $1,999, making it the company’s most expensive iPhone at launch.
The Pro models are scheduled to reach customers on September 18, while the Duo follows on October 23. That creates a window for Nigerian resellers to set their launch prices before the market settles.
The Real Test Comes Next
The biggest question is whether VeryDarkMan will move from the VeryDarkMan China Apple Store video to actual bulk imports.
He has made similar moves around iPhone pricing before, attracting attention by comparing Apple’s prices with what Nigerian consumers are charged. Some online users are already questioning whether this latest promise will result in phones being delivered to customers at the claimed prices.
If he follows through, the experiment could put pressure on other sellers to explain their pricing more clearly. If he does not, the episode may remain another viral confrontation between VeryDarkMan and the Nigerian phone market.
Either way, the conversation has shifted from simply asking how much is the iPhone 18 in Nigeria to asking what consumers are actually paying for when a new iPhone arrives in the country.
