Detty December: Boon or Burden 

December in Lagos has become something everyone looks forward to every year. Months prior, Lagos is almost serene, defined by the occasional late-night traffic, quiet sidewalks, and the hum of day-to-day bustle. But once the Yuletide hits, the lagoon city transforms into a month-long festival of back-to-back concerts, sold-out events, and daily pop-ups. Socialites, hustlers, and everyday Lagosians all fall into the rhythm for Detty December.

“Detty December” comes from Nigerian-Ghanaian speak, with Nigerian singer Mr Eazi credited for coining and popularizing it in 2016 as a hashtag for his Lagos to Accra concert. It fuses the playful Pidgin word detty (“dirty”) with December to capture a period of unrestrained fun and partying that now defines the end of the year across Nigeria and other  parts of Africa.

The return of Nigerians in the diaspora, popularly called IJGBs (I Just Got Back) is a major driver of the season’s energy and spending. High profile events like the Greater Lagos Fiesta, Rhythm Unplugged, African Fashion Week, and an array of brand-sponsored concerts, all stack the city’s calendar with back-to-back nights of music and nightlife.

For many Lagosians, the celebration is equal parts thrill and headache. The Lagos State tourism department reported a revenue of US$71.6 million in December 2024  from tourism, hospitality, and entertainment. Hotels brought in roughly US$44 million, while short-let apartments contributed about US$13 million to the Lagos economy. Another report estimates that hotels, clubs, and leisure spots together made over ₦100 billion during the same season, hosting around 1.2 million tourists, about 60 percent of them domestic visitors. With this tremendous success comes the trouble that plagues the city during this period. Lagos already struggles with gridlock, and during Detty December the congestion worsens, there are more cars, more events and therefore more people on the move. Regular road users face marathon traffic jams that turn 20-minute rides into two-hour ordeals. 

Residents of nightlife hubs like in Lekki complain of sleepless nights and noise pollution, despite state warnings and noise regulations. In 2024, the Lagos state government issued noise-control directives and announced increased police patrols, but poor enforcement has rendered the policy irrelevant. 

Government estimates show Lagosians already lose an average of four hours daily to traffic, with annual productivity losses of about ₦4 trillion. In December, busy routes see fares more than double due to heavy traffic. Fuel shortages, pothole-riddled roads, and overstretched public infrastructure compound the stress, making the festive atmosphere as exhausting as it is exhilarating. Security and basic services are no better as they strain under the weight of this surge. Waste piles up around popular venues, while electricity demand escalates. Emergency rooms also see a seasonal increase in alcohol-related injuries and road accidents. 

Lagos state government officials have suggested easing Detty December congestion by spreading big concerts across different parts of the city and improving transport links, including possible park-and-ride options. But can these plans go far enough, looking at the weak enforcement of noise regulations and poor crowd control during past holiday seasons.

Who really profits from all of these? Diaspora returnees and affluent partygoers dominate the ticketed concerts and VIP lounges, while everyday residents shoulder higher transport fares and inflated food prices. The environmental toll is growing too. In December, food and drinks are sold everywhere, plastic cups, disposable plates, and water sachets pile up on streets and in open drains. With Lagos already prone to flooding, those single-use plastics clog gutters and storm drains, making it harder for rainwater to flow.

Culturally, the heavy branding of Detty December will eventually push aside long-standing community traditions such as neighborhood carnivals and street theatre, with organisers struggling with expensive venue fees and booking nearly two months in advance just to secure a space.

What’s missing is a coordinated strategy to handle the holiday surge and tighter management of major events, ensuring that the economic gains continue but at a pace the city can sustain. Other festival cities like Rio de Janeiro during Carnival and New Orleans during Mardi Gras show what’s possible, with timed street closures, dedicated sanitation crews and strong policies that cater specifically to the celebration. Detty December is now woven into Lagos’ identity, a global showcase for Afrobeats, fashion, and diaspora pride. The financial rewards are clear, but so are the traffic snarls, noise, and environmental strain. For the season to remain more boon than burden, the city will need stronger planning and firmer enforcement to balance celebration with everyday livability.