Unregulated pricing and lack of coordination across key sectors undermined Nigeria’s Detty December experience in 2025, industry stakeholders have said.
Tourism consultant and Principal Managing Partner, Aeronexus Partners Ltd, Gbenga Onitilo criticised what he described as “chaotic exploitation” across hospitality and service sectors during the festive period.
He cited sharp increases in accommodation and service costs, with some hotels and short-let apartments raising prices by as much as five times their regular rates.
“People saw it as an opportunity to milk visitors rather than build a sustainable tourism ecosystem,” he said.
The situation, he noted, was worsened by the absence of regulatory oversight and data tracking, particularly in the short-let market.
“Who captured how many short-lets accommodated visitors? What revenue was taxed? A lot of this activity is completely unstructured,” Onitilo added.
He also pointed to a disconnect between event organisers, travel operators, airlines, and government agencies, resulting in missed opportunities for integrated tourism packages.
The consequences included overcrowded flights, limited coordination with domestic carriers, and poor visitor experiences at entry points.
“The experience starts from arrival at the airport, and unfortunately, that process remains chaotic,” he said.
