Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, has defended pricing spikes during Nigeria’s Detty December season, noting that hotel rates in global cities such as New York can rise by as much as 600 percent during peak events.
Speaking at the Naija7Wonders conference, Asika said Nigerians should avoid excessive negativity about the festive season pricing.
“Anywhere in the world that becomes hot, prices go up. During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, prices can rise 600 percent. That’s global reality,” he said.
He maintained that Detty December did not emerge by accident but is the result of years of investment by both private promoters and state governments. He referenced the early “One Lagos” initiative launched in 2015 and longstanding events such as the Calabar Carnival, now over two decades old.
According to Asika, festive activity during the last Christmas season extended beyond Lagos, with significant participation in Enugu, Abuja, Jos, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Calabar.
He cited industry data estimating Lagos nightlife alone generated $900 million in 2024. Extrapolated across roughly 40 major cities nationwide, he suggested nightlife could represent a $3 billion segment of the economy.
Asika acknowledged challenges such as traffic congestion in Lagos but commended subnational governments for taking ownership of event coordination and security planning.
At the federal level, he disclosed that a Detty December Committee — comprising ministers of interior, power, security agencies including DSS and NIA, and state representatives — had been formed, though approvals came late in the 2024 cycle. He said earlier coordination is planned for future editions.
He stressed that culture remains the authentic driver of tourism. “Culture and tourism go hand in hand. When the experience is authentic, people come,” he said.
