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Christmas in Naija: How We Dey Manage Celebrate Despite Wahala

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By Gloria Ikibah
 
For Naija, Christmas no be just ordinary holiday. Na time wey hope dey shine, vibe dey sweet, and gratitude dey full everywhere. Na that time of the year wey, no matter how life don hard, people go try “show face” because Christmas na big deal. But lately, with the way everything dey cost and suffer no dey reduce, celebrating Christmas don turn wahala for many families.
 
Still, as we dey talk, “Man no fit kill himself.” Nigerians no dey carry last. We sabi find ways to flex and celebrate the birth of Jesus, even if na to cut corner or manage small.
 
 
Cost Wahala: Everything Don Cost Die
 
You no need any prophet to tell you say things for market don turn another level. Everything don cost! From rice to chicken, even maggi cube sef don follow increase. Wetin you go talk about live chicken? E don be like say to chop chicken for Christmas na for rich people alone. Rice wey people dey buy for ₦20,000 before don near ₦100,000. Wetin we go do?
 
But for Naija, no Christmas without rice and chicken. E be like wedding without music, e no complete. So, people dey hustle extra hard. Tailors no fit sleep because everybody wan sew new clothes. For market, na haggling full everywhere as buyers dey try drag price wey don already high.
 
Yet, hope still dey. Naija people dey always talk say, “God no go shame us.” Somehow, everybody dey find way.
 
 
December Rush: Going Back to the Village  
 
One of the sweetest things about Christmas for Naija na the “back to village” movement. Whether you dey Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ibadan ofPort Harcourt, December na time to reconnect with your roots. But my brother, the journey no easy o.
 
Transport fare dey mad. Fuel price dey high, so drivers no dey smile. Imagine paying ₦40,000 from Lagos to Enugu wey before na ₦7,000. Still, people dey go because, as dem go talk, “Home sweet pass anywhere.”
 
Na the road matter sef dey pain pass. Traffic go tie you like wrapper, police go dey disturb you for checkpoints, and bad roads no go allow you rest. But trust Nigerians; we sabi manage. With small gist, music, and snacks for road, the journey go dey bearable.
 
 
Decorations and the Christmas Feeling 
 
No matter the hardship, December still dey sweet for Naija. Streets go dey shine with Christmas lights, even if e no plenty like oyinbo countries. Small businesses go hang blinking lights, and some churches go do nativity scenes. Children go sing carols, mixing English and local hymns.
 
For house, families dey try decorate, no matter how small. If you no fit buy Christmas tree, palm frond dey available. Just add ribbon join am, and your tree don complete. Nigerians go just laugh say, “Na manage we dey manage, but e go still sweet.”
 
 
The Christmas Food: Make Everybody Chop 
 
For Naija, food na the center of Christmas celebration. Even if na one kind year wey e be like say soup no too dey plenty, Christmas day different. Rice, whether na Jollof or fried, e must show. Chicken, goat meat,cow meat or turkey go follow. If you lucky, you go see moimoi, salad, or even nkwobi and isi-ewu.
 
But the hustle to prepare food no easy. Cooking gas dey cost, firewood no dey too plenty, and food items don turn something else for market. Na there the community spirit dey enter. Neighbors dey share, people dey contribute small small, because as dem dey talk, “Nobody wan carry last, everybody must chop.”
 
 
Church Service: The Main Reason for Christmas
 
For Naija, we no dey forget say the reason for the season na Jesus Christ. Churches dey full on Christmas morning as families go dey sing, pray, and thank God for the year. Choir go sing gospel wey go touch heart, and pastor go preach hope, love, and resilience.
 
For some villages, dem dey even do nativity play or Christmas drama to remind people of how Christ take start. E dey sweet when you see traditional dance join the celebration. Religion and culture dey mix well for Naija style of Christmas.
 
 
Evening Cruise: Detty December Don Land  
 
After all the food and church matter, na groove time! Children go wear their fine new clothes waka round, go house to house dey greet people and collect small gifts (aka “Christmas handouts”). Youths go organize street parties, and local DJs go blast music wey go make body sweet.
 
For some people, na time to do “detty December.” Bars, lounges, and beaches go full as people go dey vibe, because, as we sabi talk, “Body no be firewood.”
 
 
Finding Joy Even When E No Easy  
 
Despite all the struggle, Nigerians sabi find joy. Na about the small memories, laughter from children, food wey everybody chop together, and the spirit of giving. Even those wey no fit afford big celebration still dey thank God o. Some people go do small house party; others go just use the day pray and reflect.
 
Social media sef dey help. People dey share their own kind of celebration, using hashtags like #NaijaChristmas or #DettyDecember to show say life still dey sweet, no matter the condition.
 
 
As We Enter New Year  
 
As another year dey end, hope still dey shine for Naija. The way people dey push through Christmas wahala, show the resilience wey Nigerians carry. Everybody dey pray say next year go better, better economy, better life.
 
So, whether na rice and chicken you chop, or na garri you soak, one thing sure: Christmas na about the heart wey dey give. Love, gratitude, and hope na wetin matter pass.
 
Merry Christmas, Naija style!

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Akpabio drags Natasha to court over satirical apology

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete a satirical apology she posted on her social media pages.

On 27 April, Akpoti-Uduaghan shared a short video in which she mockingly apologised to Akpabio, claiming it was for not allowing him to have his way with her.

Akpoti-Uduaghan stated she was ‘sorry for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect’ and for rejecting the advances of the Senate President, whom she implied believed no one could refuse him.

The dispute between the two senators stems from an altercation in the Senate chamber over seating arrangements.

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This led to Akpoti-Uduaghan initiating a suit that sought to stop the Senate from investigating her for alleged misconduct.

In particular, the senator asked the court to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, from taking any disciplinary action against her.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was later suspended following her accusations against the Senate President, accusing him of sexual harassment.

The presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, on 4 April 2025, restrained all parties involved in the suit from making public comments about the ongoing case.

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Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, has filed a fresh application asking the court to direct Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete the video, arguing it violated a judge’s directive.

In his application, Akpabio’s lawyer also requested the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to remove the post from all her social media accounts.

Additionally, Ogunwumiju urged the court to mandate Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a written apology in at least two national newspapers and file an affidavit confirming her compliance.

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Real reason APGA snubbed Obi, adopts Tinubu

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Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra on Thursday announced that the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has officially adopted President Bola Tinubu as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

Mr Soludo made the announcement at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka during the President’s working visit to the state.

According Mr Soludo, APGA and the All Progressives Congress, APC, will work together, as both parties share a common belief in progressivism.

Mr Soludo said: “Progressives are working together.”

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Earlier, the President described Mr Soludo as a competent governor.

While inaugurating several major projects executed by the Soludo administration, the President described Mr Soludo as a friend and a visionary leader.

He said: “I am honoured to be here. I commend my friend, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who is a visionary and competent leader for the work he has been doing in Anambra State.”

The projects set to be commissioned by the President include Emeka Anyaoku Center at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the new Government House, the Solution Fun City, and the 8-lane Aroma–Government House Boulevard in Awka.

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Senate endorses Tinubu’s full tax reform package

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On Thursday, the Senate passed the final two tax reform bills submitted by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, completing the approval of all four proposed laws.

This comes a day after the Senate had already passed two of the bills, with the remaining pair receiving the green light today.

The legislation will now undergo harmonization by a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives before being presented to President Tinubu for assent.

The four executive bills include the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and the Nigeria Tax Bill—all aimed at overhauling and modernizing Nigeria’s tax system.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in an earlier statement, praised the move, calling it “a step in the right direction” that would significantly improve governance and transform the country’s revenue collection processes.

In another major development, Nigeria has cleared all outstanding debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), officially exiting the list of debtor nations.

As of 2023, Nigeria owed the IMF $1.61 billion. However, under a repayment strategy initiated by President Tinubu’s administration, the debt was reduced to $472 million by January 2025 and has now been fully repaid as of May 2025.

This milestone was confirmed in the latest update on the IMF’s website, and reiterated by O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement and Strategy, via a post on his account.

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