Lagos’s Detty December season generated $71 million in 2025, with consumer spending reaching an estimated N396.54 billion, more than triple the N111.5 billion recorded in 2024, according to BusinessDay Nigeria. The event, which attracts significant diaspora visitors, saw arrivals from the United States surpass those from the United Kingdom for the first time, with 55% of spending attributed to international travelers. However, Nigeria’s tourism sector faces challenges in aligning infrastructure and services with the growing demand, as highlighted by Femi Fadina, national president of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN).
Fadina warned that the rapid growth of Detty December has created a market where luxury pricing is applied to average service, prompting some visitors to seek alternatives on the continent. He criticized the lack of a structured tourism framework, stating, “Detty December did not become a global phenomenon because Nigeria had a well-structured tourism framework. It grew despite the absence of one.” He warned that operators are “extracting a year’s profit within a single month,” risking long-term sustainability.
In response to these gaps, StayAfrik, a Nigerian travel company, launched its 2026 flagship package, Eko for Show (Lagos): A December to Remember. The seven-night, twelve-guest itinerary, priced at $5,300 per guest, includes luxury accommodations, curated dining, concert access, and cultural excursions. Founders Bisola and Bukola Animashaun, who have operated a Lagos hospitality business for years, designed the package to address the disconnect between visitor expectations and local service quality.
The Animashaus’ experience spans over five years of observing Detty December’s evolution. They noted that the event, once a cultural spike, has become a high-stakes phenomenon where outsiders face inflated prices and inadequate support. “Lagos has a lot to offer. It’s just unpackaged,” Bisola Animashaun said. She emphasized that Nigerian tourism is still in its growth stage, lacking the infrastructure to cater to visitors without expert guidance.
StayAfrik’s approach leverages the founders’ deep local knowledge, including navigating Lagos’s traffic, selecting reliable venues, and curating experiences that reflect the city’s cultural and historical depth. The package targets diaspora Nigerians and foreign travelers unfamiliar with the city, offering a structured alternative to the chaotic, unregulated tourism landscape.
The company’s 2026 offerings mark a shift from its previous role as a discreet concierge service for existing clients. By branding the experience under StayAfrik, the founders aim to scale their model while maintaining exclusivity—limiting each cohort to twelve guests. Bookings for the Lagos package and other 2026 itineraries are open at stayafrik.com, via email at [email protected], or WhatsApp at +234 815 557 7245.
Bisola Animashaun framed the initiative as a step toward positioning Lagos as a global destination. “Nigerians have mastered hosting each other,” she said. “The next step is hosting the world.” The founders’ vision aligns with broader calls for Nigeria to invest in tourism infrastructure, ensuring that economic gains from events like Detty December translate into sustainable visitor experiences.
The article highlights the tension between Lagos’s growing appeal and its underdeveloped tourism ecosystem. While Detty December’s financial success underscores the city’s potential, the need for systemic improvements remains urgent. StayAfrik’s model offers a glimpse of what could be achieved with targeted investment and expertise, but broader reforms are essential to meet the expectations of an increasingly discerning global audience.
BusinessDay Nigeria’s reporting on Detty December underscores the complexities of Nigeria’s tourism sector. The 2025 figures reflect both the opportunities and challenges of capitalizing on cultural events, while the voices of industry leaders and entrepreneurs like the Animashaus provide critical insights into the path forward.
The article also features contributions from Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha, Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, whose work on travel and aviation issues has earned recognition, including the 2025 Eloy Award in the Print Media Journalist category.
The piece concludes with a broader reflection on Nigeria’s tourism trajectory, emphasizing the need for structured development to ensure that economic gains from events like Detty December benefit both visitors and the local community in the long term.