The Federal Government will begin early preparations for the 2026 edition of Detty December, Nigeria’s popular year-end festival, starting in March, the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has said.
Musawa made this known on Saturday during an interview on the MIC ON podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, while reviewing the 2025 festive season. She noted that although last year’s festivities delivered significant economic and tourism gains, they also revealed structural challenges that must be addressed to sustain Nigeria’s reputation as a top global holiday destination.
“Overall, there were more positives than negatives. Tourist inflow and spending were strong, but limited accommodation, vendor overpricing, and traffic congestion threatened the overall experience,” she explained.
The minister added, “We are currently reviewing the 2025 Detty December. The main challenges are accommodation shortages and inflated pricing by service providers. Preparations for this year’s Detty December will commence in March, with a paper submitted to the Federal Executive Council to coordinate all necessary support for a successful festive season in Lagos.”
Detty December encompasses a range of concerts, parties, festivals, and cultural events that dominate Nigeria’s social calendar towards the end of the year, with Lagos serving as the central hub for both local and international visitors.
“Lagos has become a global destination for December tourism, but we want to expand festivities to other regions. Events like the Calabar Festival and activities in Enugu, Plateau, and other parts of the South East will be enhanced to attract visitors to more parts of Nigeria,” Musawa said.
She also highlighted plans to strengthen support for Lagos and the creative sector through targeted funding, infrastructure development, and an endowment fund aimed at boosting creative output.
“The Federal Government must provide more support for creatives through funding and infrastructure. The proposed endowment fund will help achieve this, and we need more five-star and upper-class hotels to accommodate visitors,” she added.
Musawa expressed optimism that ongoing airport upgrades in Lagos would improve the arrival experience for tourists by year-end. While traffic relief measures, including new roads and flyovers, are underway, she warned that unchecked pricing could threaten Nigeria’s competitiveness as a festive destination.
“The government must regulate pricing to ensure Nigeria remains a top December destination,” she said.