By Prisca Sam-Duru
Thursday, December 25, 2025, was Christmas day. Christmas Day is a day Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. For some reason, the world begins to celebrate as soon as we step into the month of December, each year. The season, which is now called Detty December, continues with funfair until early January.
In 2025, which is already packing out, the season has been vibrant in spite of the widespread insecurity in Nigeria as well as severe hardship. Religious activities and diverse Detty December events are being held at different locations across the country. And, that is in spite of the fear of being attacked by rampaging terrorists.
Upon all the scary stories about serial abductions of school children and passengers on the highway, there has been serious traffic on the roads. Nigerians are travelling up and down.
Travellers have been sharing stories about the gridlocks on major highways. This is heartwarming. Heartwarming not because people are suffering or trapped on the roads, but because Nigerians, who are perhaps the most resilient people on planet earth, refused to be overwhelmed with fear of terrorists. Visiting loved ones and celebrating the Yuletide, which many usually do just once in a year, is always one of the things that makes every Christmas the best ever.
Here in Lagos, the gridlocks on the roads since about two weeks have been both mentally, physically, and pocket draining. Imagine that a journey from Lekki Phase 1 to Elegwusi beach, which was supposed to have taken about 20 minutes, lasted from about 12 pm to 6 pm. On getting to the beach, everyone was exhausted. We lost the strength to have fun; but we managed.
But then, there was something positive that I witnessed on that Saturday, December 20, at the beach. The Elegwusi beach was overcrowded. Adults and children swarmed the beach in colourful beach wears, getting entertained with several amusement games. The handlers had smiles on their faces amidst severe sweating in the hot sun while giving directions to fun-seekers. Make no mistake, the 2,000-naira gate fee multiplied by the thousands of people that trooped there in one day is enough to draw smiles in the midst of a stressful duty. That also speaks eloquently of how much tourism can do to boost the country’s economy.
Away from events on the road. This could be your best Christmas so far if you could still reach out to vulnerable communities and families. Earlier, we saw some widows, widowers, and vulnerable Ebute Metta residents, going home with food boxes worth 200k from the collaborative efforts of 22Bet Nigeria and Lagos Food bank Initiative. Also, at the recent Glad Tidings Outreach’s “Help From Above” 5th year anniversary and Widows Empowerment event, a good number of widows were empowered with start-up funds even as every attendee smiled home with bags of rice, beans, groundnut oil and condiments.
A host of other NGOs, groups, and even individuals have also made sure that the less privileged around them also shares in the joy of the season.
In fact, this is a season of don’t eat alone. The country’s economy is not fantastic at all at the moment. People are super hungry. Please give them the best Christmas ever.
And to my fellow poor Nigerians, no do pass yourself ooo. If you can’t afford chicken, which now sells up to 17,000 naira and above, just fry or cook eggs for your family. They’re the same thing. For the Gen Zs, please, no “Dirty December”. As for you female Gen Zs, there’s no need to borrow or go yahoo-boyfriend hunting just for packaging. Your safety, both physically and health wise, is of utmost importance. Packaging can end badly.
Those of my Eastern brethren who don’t fail to travel each year, if you can’t afford the fare this time, send the little you have home. They’ll appreciate it.
Detty December entails lots of entertainment activities. Don’t be carried away. Remember not every party organiser means well, so choose the party to attend and choose wisely.
Another good thing you’ll do this period is to remain happy even if your expectations for gifts didn’t materialize. Bear no grudges for, you know not what that your usual benefactor is going through.
The harsh economy is affecting Nigerians except our politicians. It is worse now that even those of us with less than 5,000 naira as savings in our bank accounts cannot celebrate without worrying over what happens to our money by January 2026, due to news/rumours about TIN. See, this is Christmas. This is the season of joy and reflection on the impact of the coming of Christ on mankind. Let no one spoil our fun. 2026 will take care of itself.
.Originally published in Saturday Vanguard
