Nigeria’s booming “Detty December” festive season generated an estimated $500 million in revenue, but the country failed to fully harness its economic potential due to structural gaps, according to tourism expert and Principal Managing Partner, Aeronexus Partners Ltd, Gbenga Onitilo.
Speaking during the Naija7Wonders Zoom conference, Onitilo said the annual influx of visitors between December 10 and early January continues to grow, with over 300,000 international arrivals recorded within the period.
However, he noted that the absence of a coordinated tourism framework limited the country’s ability to maximise returns.
“We had over $500 million on the table, but did Nigeria actually benefit? I would say no,” he stated.
According to him, the surge—largely driven by diaspora Nigerians returning from cities such as London, Dubai, and across the United States—was not deliberately planned but rather “stumbled upon.”
He emphasised that tourism extends beyond flights and hotel bookings, encompassing hospitality, events, nightlife, transportation, and cultural experiences.
“Tourism is an ecosystem. What we have now is fragmented activity, not a coordinated industry,” he added.
Onitilo warned that without urgent reforms, Nigeria risks losing revenue to competing destinations that offer better-structured visitor experiences.
