Christmas markets are meant to sparkle with excitement, but this year tells a different story. As inflation tightens its grip, many Nigerians are finding that festive cheer now carries a price tag beyond reach. From Lagos to Ilorin, families are scaling back traditions, trimming once-lavish plans into bare-bones budgets and turning a season of joy into one of careful compromise. TOSIN OYEDIRAN and ADETUTU SOBOWALE report

In the dusty heat of Mowe Market, one of the largest markets along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Mummy Paul winced at N28,000 chicken tags — up from last year’s N15,000 — muttering, “How can we celebrate?”

Mummy Paul moved steadily between stalls, her two children — aged fifteen and seventeen — trailing closely behind. They had come all the way from Lagos, where their schools are located, to spend Christmas and New Year with her, but the festive cheer in their eyes dimmed with each step.

At the live chicken section of the market, she paused, scrutinising the prices and haggling with a vendor whose figure seemed as unyielding as the dry-season heat.

“How can we celebrate with these prices?” she repeated, visibly tired, when our correspondent accosted her during a market survey in the festive season.

“This is the size I usually buy for my family of four. Last year, it cost about N15,000. A price of N18,000 to N20,000 would have been fair, but N25,000 to N28,000 is really on the high side,” she added.

Adjusting festive menus to fit budgets

When our correspondent asked a seller, Bright Monday, to explain the price increase — despite chickens being reared in many poultry farms and even in homes for eggs and commercial sales — he blamed it on rising production costs.

“The cost of chicken feed has increased significantly, and the weather has been extremely hot. It stopped raining over a month ago, and maintaining a cool environment for the birds to survive is expensive,” he said.

Despite the festive season, the market was surprisingly quiet. Many stalls were only half-filled, and the usual rush that comes with Christmas week was missing.

Traders blamed high prices and low purchasing power, saying many people were delaying shopping or buying far less than usual.

Our correspondent gathered that Sunday also did not record the expected crowd, even though it was the final weekend before Christmas.

Prices of frozen foods have surged. Chicken wings and turkey were an unattainable luxury, and soft drinks — once a small indulgence — were now priced like premium items. Carefully planned menus turned into compromises.

“I had to cut down everything — guests, dishes, even drinks.

“Detty December is no longer for everyone,” Mummy Paul said.

Across Nigeria, families like hers are adjusting to a new reality — festive joy rationed to match their budgets.

Unity Market Road in Ilorin

From a check at the chicken market along Unity Market Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, our correspondent reports that prices of turkey currently range from N110,000 to N135,000, while smaller turkeys sell for N60,000 to N90,000.

Broilers weighing 4–5kg go for N22,000 to N25,000, with lighter ones priced around N15,000. Old layers are available at N8,500.

Bamigbola Janet, a seller, on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, said, “Prices vary according to size, but if you plan ahead, you can still enjoy a festive meal without overspending.”

The hikes may stretch across the Yuletide and may escalate as the New Year approaches, as the Muslims fasting season (Ramadan) starts mid-February.

Meanwhile, even simple pleasures like going to the beach or attending shows and music events now come at significantly higher costs, forcing many families to quietly forgo experiences once considered part of the season.

Even young people who traditionally splurge on parties and new clothes are affected. At a shopping complex in the Ojodu area of Berger, Lagos, 30-year-old Adejumo Oba walked past decorated stores, avoiding items he would normally buy.

“I wanted to treat myself for the holiday,” he said to our correspondent. “But prices are so high, I can barely afford the basics. A pair of dry jeans ranges from N25,000 to N45,000. It’s frustrating to see the season turned into a luxury for the rich.”

The seller declined to make any comment.

More vendors, however, insist that the recent price increases are a natural consequence of rising demand during the festive season.

However, for caterers, the festive season presented a mixed reality.

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, just two days to Christmas, MJ, owner of Lagos-based MJ Kitchens, was visibly rushing out of her workspace to meet a client who had engaged her to prepare a Christmas meal. Unlike many traders lamenting slow business, she said this year felt better than the last.

“2025 is better than 2024 for me.

“Food prices have come down compared to last year, and my clients are ready to party,” she said.

However, the relief was partial.

“Despite the drop in some foodstuff prices, meat has gone up drastically. Beef, chicken, turkey—anything protein—is expensive,” she lamented.

MJ explained that caterers are often forced to either raise prices or adjust menus, a delicate balance that leads to difficult conversations with clients.

“People want to celebrate, but they also want to stay within budget. Sometimes you have to explain why portions are smaller or why the menu has changed,” she said.

Markets Under Siege, Vendors’ React

Across the city, Mrs K. B. Ogunsola faced similar frustration, but on the roads. Transport fare hikes had turned what used to be a one-hour ride or less into a costly journey. Each trip to the market added a layer of stress; every naira spent on transport meant less for food, drinks, and small treats.

“Everything is connected,” she said. “Transport fares go up, groceries go up. I am a Muslim. We want to celebrate, but it feels impossible.”

“I sell fabrics in Mowe, Ogun State, and the warehouses I buy from are in Agege and Iyana-Ipaja. There is a hike, but there were different end-of-year sales that ended on December 20. I used the window too, but my new order on Monday, December 22, speaks a new reality. I feel pained that I did not have enough funds to buy in bulk earlier. It’s a clearance sale to close their stocks for the year. For some, it is a promo sale to mark the festivities.”

Speaking in a phone interview with our correspondent, a foodstuff and frozen food vendor near Ayobo Market, Mrs R. A. Kehinde, said the “Detty December” season typically drives prices upward.

“Detty December means demand rises. Prices increase naturally,” she said.

According to Kehinde, price movements vary across food categories. She noted that frozen foods have recorded noticeable increases, while rice prices have remained relatively stable. Other items showing significant changes include groundnut oil and palm oil.

“There is no rush in the market yet. People are not really buying,” she said, attributing the slow sales to reduced purchasing power, despite reports that workers’ salaries have mostly been paid.

Providing a breakdown of recent price changes, Kehinde said chicken sold for between N4,500 and N5,500 per kilogram in November and early December but has since risen.

“Two weeks ago, chicken was N5,500 per kilo, but as of today, December 22, it is N6,000 per kilo,” she said.

Asked what to expect as Christmas approaches, particularly on December 23, 24, and Christmas morning, she said prices would likely rise further but remain within limits.

“It will rise, but I do not see it going beyond ₦7,000 per kilo,” she said.

On fish prices, she said a kilo of Kote fish, which sold for ₦3,200 to ₦3,800 last week, now goes for ₦4,500.

“Mullet was ₦3,200 before, but it is now within the range of ₦4,000,” she added.

She said she did not have croaker in stock at the time of the interview, but noted that it sells for around ₦7,000 per kilo, similar to Titus fish (Alaran).

“Turkey is currently selling for ₦8,500 per kilo,” she said, adding that she was in the process of restocking and updating her price list. She also invited further inquiries, saying, “You can reach out to me again on Wednesday or Thursday.”

On rice, a staple and one of the most sought-after food items during the festive season, Kehinde said prices have remained relatively stable, fluctuating by ₦2,000 to ₦3,000 over the past month.

“The price of a 50kg bag of foreign rice is between ₦56,000 and ₦57,000,” she said, noting that local rice is usually about ₦3,000 more expensive than foreign varieties.

Asked about long-grain foreign rice, she said it currently sells for between ₦70,000 and ₦75,000 per 50kg bag.

Kehinde also attributed low sales to buyers adopting cost-cutting measures.

“People are now pairing up to buy. Two people share a bag, or four people buy quarter bags,” she said.

When asked whether preservation costs, such as electricity supply, contribute to rising frozen food prices, she said she did not believe it was a significant factor.

“I do not really think it is a factor,” she said.

She further explained that price hikes have increased the cost of transporting goods from warehouses to markets, and from markets to shops—a cost inevitably passed on to consumers.

“Every week, something new is more expensive. It’s like the season is being taxed before we even celebrate,” she asserted.

She also noted that many buyers now go directly to wholesalers’ shops.

“These days, many customers don’t even come to the market anymore—they go straight to the wholesalers to try and save money.

“People now pair themselves in twos and fours to buy half or quarter bags of food items because they can no longer afford to buy full bags on their own,” she said.

Smaller cities feel the pinch

Mrs Akanbi Suliyah, a trader at a shopping complex along the popular Ita-Olokan Road in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, said market sales usually boom around this period because salaries are often paid within the same week.

According to her, there has a mild hike in prices, although there is a moderate increase in some food items, such as rice, largely because it is imported.

“There was no rush weeks ago, but from Monday and Tuesday, there has been noticeable improvement. Today, Wednesday, is even better. People delayed buying due to low purchasing power, but once salary alerts started coming in, they began trooping to the markets,” she said.

She added that even major markets with specific trading days—such as Igbona Market, which holds on Tuesdays, and Owode Market, which is open on Sundays—are now becoming crowded.

“There are clear improvements compared to periods when there are no festivities,” she noted.

When asked whether traders were making extra profits during the Yuletide by hiking prices, Suliyah said this was not the case.

“Two weeks ago, a bag of rice sold for between ₦56,000 and ₦58,000. However, as traders restock for the festive season, we have been told that importation slows down or even halts during this period. Osogbo is not close to any border, so supplies are limited. That is why rice now sells for between ₦62,000 and ₦64,000,” she explained.

She added that food prices have generally dropped significantly this year and remain fair.

“For groundnut oil, major brands sell for between ₦56,000 and ₦57,000, while another brand goes for ₦64,000 to ₦65,000,” she said.

Operation celebrate where you are

The situation was not different for Mrs Bose Adebayo, a mother of four residing in the Giri community in Abuja, who has family in Ondo and Kwara states.

Speaking to our correspondent, she said, “Normally, during every Christmas time, people far away from home often travel back home to their families.

“But now, due to transport costs and insecurity, a lot of people can’t travel. So we (my family) have decided to stay back in Abuja instead of going to Ondo or Kwara to celebrate with families.”

She noted that while inflation often dampens festive celebrations, this year is slightly different, as families are forced to work strictly within their budgets.

“Also, inflation in food prices affects celebrations, but thank God, food prices are relatively low this year.

“Every Christmas time, food prices just skyrocket. But at least you can buy foreign rice at ₦2,000 per mudu; last year it wasn’t like that. Even the price of local rice has come down too.

“Ordinarily, inflation is a factor, but then sellers also inflate prices. Normally, due to fuel scarcity, transport will go up, but it’s a little better now.

“This time around, I can’t travel because of the insecurity. During the celebration, clothes and shoes become more expensive.

“Because of the hike in prices, I will not buy ready-made clothes but go for cut-and-sew for myself and my four children. For shoes, I’ll buy the lower-priced ones (okrika),” she concluded.

Even transport to relatives’ homes became a financial hurdle due to rising transport fares.

One Gbolahan Ololade, an office worker based in Lagos, who travelled from Challenge Motor Park in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, and from Berger Park in Lagos—or alternatively from Ibafo Motor Park along the same axis—told our correspondent that he is a frequent traveller on the Lagos–Ibadan route, commuting weekly for work and returning to Ibadan on weekends to see his family.

“On the weekend of December 7, I took a Lagos bus from Challenge, Ibadan, for ₦2,000. The week after, it was ₦2,500. On December 21, it was ₦3,000.

“Now that there is a public holiday on Christmas Day and Friday (Boxing Day),” he lamented, noting that he “might stay back since the New Year holiday would soon be announced too.”

Similarly, a resident of the Bariga axis of Lagos who works in Magboro, Ogun State, Opeyemi Alofe, lamented that bus drivers inflated fares from ₦800 to ₦1,200, citing Christmas celebrations as justification.

“Nothing changed except that it’s December. The distance is the same, but they increased the fare because it’s Christmas,” he said.

For Mr Lekan Ajilore, the concern goes beyond transport fares to the broader financial burden of travelling home. In a WhatsApp voice note he shared, he explained that the real challenge lies in the additional expenses—buying food items, gifts, and other necessities to take along when visiting family.

He said there is often an assumption that people living in cities like Lagos or Abuja are financially comfortable, placing unspoken pressure on travellers to meet expectations when they return home.

“It’s not even the transport fare that worries me,” Ajilore said, adding that “it’s the cost of everything else. People assume that once you live in Lagos or Abuja, you’re financially okay, so you’re expected to show up with foodstuffs, gifts, and/or even shoulder some responsibilities. That pressure alone can put you in debt.

“Then there is the issue of travelling with a family of five. Driving down to my village in Oyo State, although convenient, would be more expensive than going to the park. You also never know what unforeseen issues the car might develop on the way. On top of that, there are little bills here and there.

“That is why I will be staying back in Lagos. My family and I hope to travel home next year, by God’s grace,” he concluded.

Motorists’ Union, passengers react in Ogun, Kwara

The Vice Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ijebu-Ode branch, at the Mowe Motor Park, Abdulazeez Owolabi, said passenger turnout this year has been quite encouraging.

He noted that travel during the festive season is usually low due to recurring fuel scarcity around this time of year. However, Owolabi explained that a slight drop in fuel pump prices has helped stabilise transport fares.

Speaking in Yoruba (translated), he said: “It has been a long time since we witnessed a December like this. Passengers experienced something different this year because there was a recent drop in fuel prices.

“As a result, the usual struggle associated with December fuel scarcity is not there, and people have been travelling in large numbers.”

He added that transport fares before and during the festive season have remained almost the same, explaining that the only customary adjustment is a modest increase driven by festive considerations rather than exploitation.

“There is nothing to panic about. It is not exploitative. Being in a festive mood, we celebrate with the passengers. For instance, if a fare is ₦3,000, we may increase it to ₦3,500,” he said.

Owolabi further stated that as Christmas Eve approaches, fares may rise slightly, but not to levels seen in previous years.

On current transport fares, he said: “Mowe to Osogbo is ₦8,000, and Mowe to Ilorin is also ₦8,000. Mowe to Ijebu-Ode is ₦3,000. By tomorrow, Christmas Eve, a token increment of ₦500 or ₦1,000 may be added, depending on the route.”

Maraba Park in Ilorin

At one of the largest motor parks in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital—Maraba Park—a park official, Isiaka Onibon, said the fare from Ilorin to Ijora and Ikorodu in Lagos is ₦11,000. According to him, the fare was previously ₦10,000, reflecting a token increment of ₦1,000, yet passenger turnout has remained impressive.

“The turnout is quite impressive. Buses are filling up very fast. In fact, we are even renting cars and buses to meet demand,” he said.

On the Ilorin–Kaduna and Ilorin–Kano routes, another park official, Sunmonu Oseni, disclosed that fares remain ₦25,000 and ₦31,000 respectively, noting that prices have been stable for some time.

He, however, said: “There is no increment at all here, but the turnout is really low.”

Some drivers, who pleaded anonymity, attributed the low turnout to security concerns and a lack of funds among passengers.

Meanwhile, on the Ilorin–Abuja route, the unit chairman, Jimoh Yakub, said the fare is ₦23,000, while Ilorin to Minna costs ₦18,000.

“The turnout is impressive. We thank God,” he said.

A passenger travelling to Kano, Comfort Agyi, said the turnout was not unusual based on her experience.

“It is not totally strange to me. I travel to Benue or Kano every December, and perhaps because Kano is predominantly Muslim, there is usually less travel there before Christmas. However, there may be an influx as the New Year draws closer,” she said.

Data behind the strain, economist reacts

A look at market data underscores the stories told by families and shoppers. From November to late December, rice prices rose by as much as 30 per cent, chicken and turkey prices nearly doubled, while small chops and soft drinks recorded steady weekly increases.

Analysts argue that these hikes go beyond seasonal trends.

A former Chief Economist at Zenith Bank, Mr Marcel Okeke, attributed the sharp rise in prices of transport, food, and other essentials during festive periods to socio-cultural pressures and seasonal demand.

Okeke explained that festive seasons are naturally vulnerable to price hikes because of increased movement, celebrations, and heightened demand for specific goods and services.

“There is a crisis of almost everything during the festive period. It is a socio-cultural thing,” he said.

According to him, millions of Nigerians travel during the holidays to reunite with family and friends, a trend that transport operators often exploit.

“When people must travel, transporters take advantage of the situation. If they were charging ₦50,000 to travel from Lagos to Onitsha, for example, they are likely to double or even triple it,” Okeke said.

He noted that the hikes are usually temporary, lasting only for the peak of the celebrations.

“It is seasonal. They enjoy the boom while it lasts. Transport fares go up, food prices go up, and after the celebrations, everything suddenly comes down,” he added.

Okeke said the declaration of public holidays by the Federal Government further intensifies demand, as workers seize the opportunity to travel or relax.

“When you put all these things together—travel, holidays, food consumption—you begin to see what drives the sudden increase in prices,” he said.

On the role of regulators, the economist argued that direct price control during festive periods is largely impractical.

“I don’t think there’s any way to regulate prices directly,” he said.

However, he noted that regulators could indirectly ease price pressures by supporting policies that reduce production and operating costs for businesses.

Citing the Dangote Refinery as an example, Okeke said local production could help stabilise prices.

“You can see that the Dangote refinery has brought down the price of PMS. That’s a private company, but because it sources crude locally, the cost structure is different,” he explained.

He added that cheaper fuel and energy costs could translate into lower transportation costs and, by extension, reduced prices for goods and services.

“Because the transporters also reflect the cost of shipping—for example, with flights and aeroplanes—when it comes down, prices will also come down, and generally it will be cheaper than otherwise,” he said.

Despite this, Okeke acknowledged that consumers remain largely exposed during festive periods.

According to him, people are willing to pay higher prices because they feel compelled to travel and consume certain items during the season.

“The whole thing is privatised, and it’s the operators. It’s demand and supply. That’s why the demand for transportation goes up, and the demand for all kinds of food items goes up.

“And so people must consume those things they want to consume within this season, and they must travel to where they want to travel within this season. All of that will happen, and then we go back to normal by early January,” he said.

Economists warn that without intervention, these trends could worsen, turning shared celebrations into elite experiences accessible only to the wealthy.

Detty December, once a season of joy for all, has increasingly become a stark reminder that happiness can be taxed—and that inequality shapes even the most cherished cultural moments.

Govt agency FCCPC reacts

Reacting to concerns over festive-season price hikes and consumer protection, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr Tunji Bello, said the Commission is already acting decisively, stressing that “we are responding on two parallel tracks.”

According to him, the FCCPC is conducting “market surveillance and complaint-led spot checks in key open markets and major retail outlets” while simultaneously issuing “targeted requests for information to suppliers, distributors, and relevant market associations where available signals suggest abnormal pricing behaviour or possible consumer harm.”

On allegations of coordinated pricing, hoarding, or other anti-competitive practices, Bello said the Commission will not hesitate to act where evidence exists.

“Where the facts justify it, the Commission may open formal inquiries or investigations,” he said, adding that FCCPC’s approach remains “evidence-led” and grounded in market intelligence, consumer complaints, and price-movement data.

Addressing public frustration over why peak-season protections can appear weak, he explained that enforcement during such periods is complex.

“Demand rises sharply, and prices can move quickly even in lawful and competitive markets,” he noted, warning that unlawful conduct can be “concealed within normal seasonal volatility.”

He emphasised that the Commission’s responsibility is to “separate legitimate market dynamics from conduct that breaches consumer protection or competition rules, and then act decisively within the limits of the law.”

On enforcement and outcomes, Bello assured Nigerians that violations will not go unchecked.

“Where breaches are established,” he said, “Nigerians should expect tangible outcomes such as public advisories, corrective undertakings, and enforcement measures where the evidence supports them.”

However, he cautioned that the Commission “will not announce conclusions or timelines before investigations have been properly concluded.”

Reaffirming FCCPC’s role in a free-market economy, Bello clarified that “price movement on its own is not automatically unlawful.”

The Commission, he said, exists to ensure markets are “competitive, transparent, and fair,” while preventing harm through “collusion, abuse of dominance, deception, or other prohibited conduct.”

He also highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation, noting that “effective consumer protection depends on coordination.”

He confirmed ongoing collaboration with sector regulators, market associations, and service providers, including in aviation, where the FCCPC focuses on “consumer rights, fair dealing, and competition issues.”

In this regard, Bello disclosed that the Commission has expanded its investigation into airline pricing methodologies following “persistent consumer complaints and observed pricing patterns, particularly during peak travel periods.”

The inquiry, he said, will examine transparency and any conduct that may raise competition or consumer protection concerns, with findings to be made public “at the appropriate time, in line with the law and due process.”

Cleric reacts

Speaking to Reverend Dele Alonge, a Parish Priest at Egba Anglican Diocese, on the religious perspective and dangers of exploitation during the festive season, he shared insights on why prices tend to rise and how it affects celebrations.

He explained, “Ordinarily, Christmas is not just a celebration for Christians alone, nor is it merely the end of the year. Globally, that period is significant as it encourages economic, social, and even physical interactions among families and friends. People go on holidays, travel extensively, and engage in lots of buying.”

Reverend Alonge highlighted the economic dynamics at play: “There is a principle in Economics — the law of supply and demand. It says that when prices go up, people buy less and producers sell more, and when prices go down, people buy more and producers sell less.”

He connected this to religious practices: “In Christendom, we preach reaching out to people, and gifting is an essential aspect of that. We give to our loved ones, families, friends, and also the needy. There is also Boxing Day, which loosely means a day of unboxing or exchanging gifts. Naturally, this leads to significant buying and selling, which partly explains the price hikes during the season.”

The priest further elaborated, “It is a season of love and celebration, with many parties taking place. These activities place a high demand on goods and services. Consciously or unconsciously, sellers may exploit this high demand to raise prices. Some people are alarmists and seize the opportunity to maximize profit. These factors stem not only from religious concepts but also from broader social and economic behaviors.”

When asked whether such practices are exploitative and could hinder some people from celebrating, he advised that both buyers and sellers should “conduct their dealings with moderation and fairness.”

When celebration becomes class-based

As costs rise unchecked, Detty December is increasingly becoming class-defined. Lavish celebrations dominate social media, while many households quietly ration joy or opt out entirely.

What was once a shared cultural experience is gradually being transformed into an elite affair, reinforcing inequality and exclusion.

Detty December has long symbolised community, connection, and celebration. But for many Nigerians this year, it became a season of restraint—where joy was calculated, traditions were trimmed, and celebration carried a price tag too heavy to bear.

Unless inflation is tamed and exploitative festive pricing addressed, December may continue to serve not as a season of joy, but as a reminder that in today’s Nigeria, even joy has become a privilege many can no longer afford.