A not so-merry Nigerian Christmas
BY OLAORE DURODOLA-OLOTO
As December unfolds, preparations for the yuletide season have begun across the globe. Christmas decorations have already begun adorning porches, streets and parks in New York, Toronto, Paris, Vienna and other prominent cities, signalling anticipation of the season. In Nigeria, the lore isn’t any different. Office buildings, malls, squares, and individuals have followed suit, despite the unfriendly ordeals that currently ravage the country.
For many Nigerians, it now takes conscious resilience to partake in festive preparations, as the country is currently plagued with a harsh battle for survival amid biting economic conditions and security threats. The season’s familiar sights are slowly disappearing, and Christmas itself is losing its glamour in Nigeria as the years come by.
There has been a high rate of reduction in the number of battery cages displaying exotic poultry birds on roadsides this year, due to the cost of market commodities and transportation. Poultry farmers are either discouraged by the cost of the livestock and feed or the low prospects of sales.
The fashion designing enterprise, which usually thrives in December, may not experience its customary boom as many would resort to maintain existing outfits rather than sewing new ones. Interstate transporters are also not left out. Hometown trips would be strained due to the widespread fear against the rampant abductions and highway killings. With insecurity looming on highways and remote towns, families are forced to reconsider visiting their villages. Thus, this year’s celebration might be a not-so-merry Christmas for Nigerians.
Even before now, the Nigerian pre-yuletide scene was always sandwiched between infrastructural and socioeconomic challenges, ranging from spikes in the price of market commodities to fuel scarcity and accidents caused by deplorable roads. Regardless, we slaughtered broilers, rocked new outfits, lit firecrackers, made village trips, attended concerts and threw detty-december parties, hosting friends and loved ones. But the trajectory seems to be deteriorating lately with the depressing state of the economy.
The problem of inflation is one that has plagued the Nigerian economy for years and past administrations have adopted several measures in tackling this issue but it seems to prove futile. The current political administration under Pres. Tinubu swung into action, shortly after inauguration by adopting two measures—naira devaluation and subsidy removal.
These policies yielded positive indicators as the nation’s GDP appreciated by 3.9% in H1 2025 and public debt also reduced from 42.9% in 2024 to 39.8% in 2025. Foreign investment groups have also commended the government’s policy reform, confirming its effectiveness. In an article published by Chatham House, Mark Lubin commented that Tinubu’s reforms are targeted at making long-term growth.
However, inflation still persists, affecting macroeconomic industries and individual finances. Food commodities, especially, is on the high side and doesn’t seem good for a country whose average household expends 70% of their income on food. With inflation on the rise, many Christmas essentials have become unaffordable for some Nigerians, even in spite of the Black Friday sales and promo incentives made available. As a result, a significant proportion of the Nigerian populace are bound to mark the 2025 Christmas celebration under severe austerity.
The effect of the declining economy on the Nigerian citizenry cannot be overemphasized as it has subtly begun to breed class divisions. The average Nigerian can no longer afford to participate in the detty-december culture, with tickets for shows and concerts costing thousands of naira. In a viral tweet made by an X Nigerian influencer, the ticket price for Asake, Davido and Olamide was listed respectively: Asake (300k); Davido (200k); Olamide (120k).
A fan of Asake also tweeted, stating he is deducting his ticket fee from his rent, because of his will to meet and take a photograph with the artiste. While many netizens have backlashed these artistes for their expensive tickets, it is important to note that cost of organizing a concert set to host multitudes in Nigeria is also quite alarming. Thus, the economy leaves detty-december exclusively for the wealthy, with privilege defining who celebrates and who merely survives.
In remote towns situated in the North, the festive season may be observed under the fear and the itinerary for the celebration reduced for fear of terrorists euphemized as bandits. The current economic and security architecture of the country is taking a psychological toll on the masses as they approach Christmas with emotional exhaustion and less excitement.
But, regardless, Christmas stands as a sacrosanct tradition for Nigerians. Even amidst the social turmoil, we would attend thanksgiving services and give testimonies for surviving the ordeals that came with the year. Thus, Christmas in Nigeria has evolved beyond a religious festival and has become a moment to show gratitude for survival, while quietly hoping for a better year.
Perhaps this not-so-merry Christmas will also serve as a moment of sober national introspection. A time for leaders to reflect on the real cost of policy decisions on ordinary lives. A time for citizens to re-examine what truly defines joy, wealth, and celebration. And a time for the nation to confront, with honesty, the widening gap between economic statistics and lived realities.
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