For many Nigerians, celebrating Christmas remains a cherished tradition, even as the country faces one of the worst cost-of-living crises in its history. Early shoppers can be spotted picking up essential items to mark the joyful moments, while others find creative ways to keep the festive spirit alive.
ABUJA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- A staccato of knockout sounds filled the air one Sunday evening earlier this month, heralding the Yuletide celebration at a church in Lugbe, a low-income suburb of Abuja, the Nigerian capital, where worshippers gathered for a Christmas carol, donning red, green and white attires.
Amid cheerful exchanges of gifts, they expressed hope for a joyous Yuletide despite the country's economic challenges.
"We decided to hold this Christmas carol party early because we understand that many are preparing to travel out of Abuja for the celebration. People are not being weighed down by their economic conditions; they are nevertheless willing to have a happy celebration," Olatunde Aina, the presiding pastor of the church, told Xinhua.
For many Nigerians, celebrating Christmas remains a cherished tradition, even as the country faces one of the worst cost-of-living crises in its history. Early shoppers can be spotted picking up essential items to mark the joyful moments, while others find creative ways to keep the festive spirit alive.
In Ibadan, a bustling city in southwestern Nigeria, the mood at decoration and gift stores remains subdued. At the local Dugbe Market, Grace Aletile, a decorations seller, lamented the sharp decline in sales this year, saying the rising prices of items "make people turn their backs and walk away."
Gesturing to the rows of unsold Christmas trees and ornaments, Aletile said a four-foot Christmas tree now costs 25,000 nairas (about 16 U.S. dollars), more than double its price last year, while a six-foot tree sold for 70,000 nairas (about 45 dollars). She recalled that three or four years ago, she would have been "too busy attending to customers."
Similarly, Abosede Bassey, a hamper seller at the famous Wuse Market in Abuja, said sales are down 90 percent compared to last year. "A hamper of 50,000 nairas (about 32.21 dollars) is now 80,000 nairas (about 51.54 dollars), and this is the cheapest you can get."
"Our profit margins have shrunk because all we make goes back into purchasing the various items making up a hamper," Bassey said.
On Monday, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that Nigeria's headline inflation rate rose to 34.6 percent in November, up from the 33.88 percent in October.
The statistics agency attributed the rise in inflation to increasing prices in key sectors, including food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, water, electricity, gas, clothing, transport, education, health, and other goods and services.
Despite the economic hardship, shoppers are determined to make this Christmas memorable. Omolola Bakare, a mother of three, said she was at the Wuse Market to buy Christmas caps for her children's church carol on Sunday.
"My children insisted on getting caps, so I had to come. I will reuse the decorations I have gathered over the years for the house this season," she said, noting the surprising cost of 4,000 nairas (about 2.57 dollars) per cap.
Also, Funke Ishola, who recently purchased Christmas lights at the Idumota Market in the southwestern state of Lagos, described her struggle to make ends meet.
"The same lights I got for 1,800 nairas (about 1.16 dollars) last year now cost 3,500 nairas (2.25 dollars). But really, it won't feel like Christmas if there is not at least a small decoration at home," she said.
For some, the festive season is less about material displays but more about moments shared with loved ones. At neighborhood markets in Lagos and Abuja, families flock to buy the staples of Christmas feasts -- live chickens and rice -- negotiating prices fiercely in a bid to stretch their budgets.
"Even though the cost of a chicken has doubled, we cannot celebrate Christmas without it," Lagos-based Oyindamola Lawal, a mother of four, told Xinhua. She plans to gather her extended family for a modest celebration in their hometown in the southwestern state of Ogun.
"We will cook, sing, and thank our Maker for seeing us through the year. That is what Christmas is all about," she said.
In many parts of Nigeria, community events like carol nights and street parties are gaining popularity as cost-effective ways to celebrate.
In the southeastern state of Enugu, youths are organizing a local talent show on Christmas Eve to foster communal bonds. Chika Okafor, one of the organizers, noted "Christmas is not just about spending money, but also about spending time together."
Despite the economic challenges, many Nigerians remain optimistic about the future. Churches, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropic organizations are stepping in with the provision of some relief materials, through food donations and free events, ensuring that even the less privileged can partake in the celebrations.
"We may not have all the money in the world, but we have each other, and that is enough to celebrate," said Kunle Aribisala, a local entrepreneur.■
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