Lagos witnessed a tenfold increase in tourist arrivals during the 2025 Detty December season, with more than 45,000 visitors recorded weekly at Badagry beaches and economic activity estimated in billions of naira, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, has said.
Oyekan-Ismaila disclosed this at the Naija7Wonders Meeting 3.0 hosted by the organisers of Akwaaba African Travel Market and convened by travel promoter Ikechi Uko, where tourism, travel and hospitality stakeholders met to strategise on improving coordination and profitability of Nigeria’s December tourism season.
According to her, information from immigration authorities and airport operators showed that arrivals into Lagos during December were about 10 times higher than a typical tourism period, largely driven by Nigerians in the diaspora and foreign visitors attracted by the city’s festive offerings.
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She said the December rush, which began gaining momentum in 2023, reached a new level in 2024 as returning diaspora visitors brought friends and extended networks, resulting in large groups arriving for holiday activities.
“The economic activities were massive,” Oyekan-Ismaila said, noting that spending surged across nightclubs, beaches, parks, resorts and recreational centres throughout the state.
While the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget is still compiling official figures, she said preliminary assessments indicate that the financial impact of the festive period runs into billions of naira, driven by hospitality, entertainment and transport spending.
She highlighted particularly strong turnout in the Badagry axis, where weekly beach attendance exceeded 45,000 visitors. Hotels, resorts, privately owned beaches and short-let accommodations across Lagos were reported to be fully booked during peak periods.
Marine transportation also saw heightened activity, with commercial boat services operating between Marina and Takwa Bay alongside private operators. Oyekan-Ismaila referenced the launch of additional boats by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu late last year, noting that the expanded fleet helped support December travel demand.
She added that the influx of diaspora visitors contributed to foreign exchange inflows and broader economic circulation, easing demand pressures and stimulating commercial activity in local markets and tourism corridors.
Oyekan-Ismaila acknowledged that high demand led some operators to raise prices excessively, saying the government is engaging stakeholders to encourage fair pricing and sustainable growth.
Beyond the December peak, she said Lagos is repositioning its tourism strategy toward year-round cultural and community-based attractions, including festivals and heritage experiences designed to encourage repeat visits.
“December demonstrated the capacity of Lagos to host large-scale tourism activity,” she said. “We want to sustain that momentum throughout the year.”
She emphasized that community participation, improved transport usage and responsible traffic behaviour remain critical to managing growth as Lagos continues to expand its tourism footprint.
By Friday Nwosu
