For many Nigerians, Detty December is more than parties and nightlife.
It is a homecoming.
A season to reunite with loved ones, laugh freely, and forget the struggles of the year, even if only for a moment.
And this December 2025 is no different.
In this special report, we take you into the heart of Detty December in Lagos, looking at the excitement, the movement, and the challenges facing travel and tour operators.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat, comes alive every December as Nigerians from across the world return home for the holidays.
From the airports to the streets, the energy is unmistakable. This yearly rush, now famously called Detty December, finds its strongest expression in Lagos.
Airlines say flights are full as Nigerians in the diaspora flood back home, eager to reconnect and create new memories. The city becomes a melting pot of accents, hugs, music, and motion.
Travels expert, Mrs. Nike Macaulay and the President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA, Mr. Yinka Folami speak on this.
“The demand exist in Nigeria, the Nigerian aviation space is still very attractive, as regards Visa, we should commend the minister of Interior, the online application has really improved”.
Across Victoria Island, Lekki, and Ikeja, hotels are booked solid and short-let apartments disappear almost instantly. Travel and tour expert and Group Managing, Finchglow Holdings, Mr. Bankole Bernard, says the demand this season is always overwhelming.
“So there’s so much gains coming from detty December because it is full of activities from the most expensive tickets to the cheapest shows that is 5K. So that we can choose the one you want to do”.
Beyond hotels, the ripple effect spreads quickly. Markets boom, designers work overtime, food sellers smile wider, and nightlife businesses cash in.
Tour operators like Mr. Oluwaseun Afolabi and Mr. Aderinola Desalu say, from colourful aso-ebi to sizzling suya and chilled drinks, money changes hands fast, even faster than Lagos traffic.
“And we are basically ferrying people from, Fiki to Takwabe and then we’ll bring them back like that. So we have plans already for youth and people that want to see Nigeria in a different state.
“One of the things we have also done is to create an experience for cruise, like two, three hours cruise for people that are coming in, Diaspora”.
Every night tells a different story. Beach parties, rooftop lounges, concerts, and street hangouts keep the city awake.
For many, Detty December is about chasing joy, vibes, and moments worth remembering.
But behind the glitter, there is pressure. Prices rise, spending increases, and some people struggle to keep up with the flashy lifestyle of the season.
Head, TravelDen, Mr. Gbenga Onitilo, says overpricing has pushed some travellers to celebrate in neighbouring countries like Ghana.
“But what we have witnessed so far is that we are taking pricing out of order.
And we are seeing bars, restaurants, or even hotels that will not have capacity, maybe some parts of January. We are now seeing their pricing like three times.
They are not doing pricing based on forex. They are not looking based on our reality anymore. That is now impacting affordability, what it’s even doing now is now pushing people to now think of, let me even go to other countries”.
However, the President NANTA, Mr. Yinka Folami, insists price increases are driven by demand, saying it is a normal market response during peak season.
“Is a seasonal thing, travel, hospitality are seasonal, we all know that prices go up as a function of availability and as a function of commerce”.
With crowds swelling and roads busy late into the night, security agencies remain on alert.
According to Mr. Bankole Bernard, despite the heavy movement, the season has remained largely incident-free.
“Because the funds are going to go around to ensuring that people coming in, it’s supposed to create a safe haven. People feel comfortable to come there and that is what led to Detty December. Apart from the fact that they found Lagos cheaper when they bring their pounds and their dollars”.
As the year draws to a close, one message rings clear, detty December is more than a celebration.
It is Nigeria choosing joy over hardship, music over silence, and hope over worry, ending the year dancing and dreaming of better days ahead.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen