Detty December: Nigeria’s yearly ritual – The bad, ugly and good

Detty December has always been Nigeria’s loudest mantra, a month filled with music, beach parties, and carefree spending. This year, however, it feels different.

The streets are quieter. Clubs are less crowded. The usual merry chaos feels strangely calm. Everyone is asking the same question: why does December suddenly feel calmer this year?

Then comes the bad. This year, the festive vibes have been dampened. Inflation has made basic items nearly double in cost, yet everyday life tells another story. Food prices remain high; a crate of eggs now costs almost as much as a concert ticket.

Petrol sits at around ₦850 per litre, making even short journeys something to plan carefully rather than take spontaneously. Car owners who once zipped between events now hesitate, while Uber trips feel like a luxury, with surge charges sometimes adding ₦60,000 for a ride from the Island to the mainland.

Flights are no exception, a Lagos–Abuja return fare that opened at ₦140,000 last December now starts above ₦300,000. Many diaspora cousins, nieces, and nephews who would have landed with dollars in hand now simply FaceTime home and call it Christmas.

Concert tickets that once felt attainable at ₦80,000 now begin at ₦150,000. Sponsors have slashed entertainment budgets by around 40%, and some major music festivals have already refunded tickets, citing low sales.

Then the ugly. In just eleven months this year, over five thousand violent incidents have been recorded. Bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers have left countless families shattered. Innocent schoolchildren, couples, teachers, and farmers are abducted on a daily basis; many have been killed, and some remain in captivity. Fear has become an integral part of life, forcing Nigerians to choose between safety and staying out late.

From 1 of January, it’s not just Happy new year but happy tax year, workers, creators, influencers, freelancers, traders and remote workers who earn above ₦800,000 annually will start paying tax, sparking fear and uncertainty about what 2026 holds despite how hard the economy is.

Then the good. Family reunites, friends gather, people still attend affordable concerts, and raves fill every corner with life and laughter. Some other people travel to their hometowns to celebrate with their loved ones.

The country is gradually filling up, few diaspora relatives return, and the air is filled with excitement. For many, it’s a chance to avoid frivolous spending and rather celebrate life and spend quality time with family members with the little they have as the year draws to an end.

Above all, Nigerians still find reasons to smile amid it all. Though the season is more quiet, it is also more intimate. A shared meal, familiar music, and time with loved ones may replace the thought of the failing system. And perhaps that, for now, is enough. One day, the volume will rise again, when the country has progressed.