Brief-stay flats throughout Lagos recorded sustained demand through the 2025 Detty December festive season, pushed largely by diaspora Nigerians returning house for the vacations.
Regardless of noticeable seasonal value will increase, occupancy ranges remained sturdy throughout key areas, reinforcing the rising position of short-let flats in Lagos’ hospitality and actual property ecosystem.
Investigations by Nairametrics present that flats in high-demand areas similar to Ikoyi, Ikeja, Lekki, Victoria Island, Surulere, and Gbagada skilled near-full occupancy from early December by means of January, with some bookings extending into February.
The pattern highlights the choice of festive guests for versatile, personal, and family-oriented lodging choices over conventional accommodations.
Whereas pricing methods diversified amongst operators, the festive interval remained extremely worthwhile, particularly for individuals who balanced charge will increase with sustained occupancy.
Pricing methods and operator insights
Brief-stay operators interviewed by Nairametrics described the 2025 festive season as considered one of sturdy returns, underpinned by diaspora demand and extended-length stays.
Ambassador Moyosore Badejo, Chief Working Officer of Deity Properties Int’l Restricted, manages 5 short-stay flats throughout Ikeja, Gbagada, and Lekki Section 1.
He famous that bookings started constructing from early December and prolonged nicely into late January, with newly opened items already receiving reservations into February.
In accordance with him, diaspora Nigerians constituted nearly all of visitors, typically travelling with household or internet hosting kin through the festivities. He defined that pricing self-discipline was essential to sustaining excessive occupancy.
“Average charge will increase of about 40% through the festive season ensured regular bookings. In distinction, excessive hikes — typically doubling normal charges — didn’t all the time translate to raised occupancy,” Badejo advised Nairametrics.
- At Deity Properties, festive pricing mirrored this method. In Ikeja, two-bedroom flats elevated from N120,000 to N180,000 per evening, whereas three-bedroom items rose from N160,000 to N240,000.
- In Gbagada, two-bedroom flats elevated from N100,000 to N150,000, and one-bedroom items from N70,000 to N100,000.
- In Lekki Section 1, two-bedroom flats rose from N120,000 to N200,000 per evening.
Different operators reported related experiences. Michael Obot, who manages two four-bedroom duplexes in Ikeja, stated operational realities influenced pricing selections.
“December is exclusive. Energy provide turns into unreliable, and working turbines will increase prices. We adjusted charges from N200,000 to N250,000 per evening to replicate these realities,” he defined.
Bukola Ekunsola, who manages a one-bedroom residence in Ikoyi, stated her unit elevated from N150,000 per evening to N250,000 through the festive interval, citing heightened demand and value pressures.
“The festive season all the time attracts extra folks. These will increase replicate demand and operational realities, not arbitrary pricing,” she stated.
Diaspora guests drive prolonged stays
Diaspora Nigerians emerged because the dominant buyer phase, accounting for the longest stays and highest whole spending. Many booked flats for between 10 days and 4 weeks, with whole lodging prices typically reaching N3 million or extra.
Amadi Sunday, a France-based Nigerian, booked a four-bedroom residence in Ikeja GRA for 2 weeks, spending roughly N3.5 million. He stated the choice was considerably cheaper and extra handy than staying in a four-star lodge, particularly with prolonged household visits.
Nonetheless, he famous transparency challenges, significantly round extra expenses for generator gas throughout energy outages.
One other diaspora customer, Azeez Abdulamin, booked a three-bedroom residence in Lekki for his household from December 15 to twenty-eight. He paid N200,000 per evening initially and later negotiated a diminished charge of N180,000 per evening for the rest of his keep.
“The flexibleness, privateness, and house made short-stays extra sensible for household gatherings than accommodations,” he stated.
Home vacationers additionally contributed to demand. Chinedu Okeke, visiting from Abuja along with his siblings, booked a two-bedroom residence in Surulere for 10 days, securing a negotiated charge under preliminary provides from intermediaries.
Market dynamics and aggressive panorama
The 2025 Detty December interval additionally noticed an inflow of recent short-stay flats, significantly in Ikeja, Lekki, Ikoyi, Surulere, and Victoria Island. This elevated provide intensified competitors and inspired operators to undertake extra versatile pricing methods to safe occupancy.
- Operators relied on a number of reserving channels, together with Airbnb, Reserving.com, Nigeria Property Centre, Property Professional, Non-public Property, brokers, and social media promotions. Some operators invested in premium listings and influencer advertising to enhance visibility.
- Facilities similar to secure electrical energy, safety, cleansing providers, pay TV, streaming platforms, and aesthetic interiors performed a key position in attracting bookings. Refundable warning charges starting from N100,000 to N150,000 had been widespread.
- Seasonal pricing usually started easing in January, permitting operators to retain visitors whereas sustaining occupancy into the brand new 12 months.
Outlook for Lagos’ short-stay market
The 2025 Detty December season bolstered the resilience of Lagos’ short-stay market, with diaspora Nigerians remaining the first demand drivers and home travellers offering extra assist.
Through the 2024 festive season, short-let flats reportedly contributed about $13 million to Lagos’ festive economic system. Whereas official figures for 2025 are but to be launched, sustained occupancy ranges counsel comparable income outcomes.
With rising provide, evolving pricing methods, and constant diaspora inflows, Lagos’ short-stay residence market is prone to stay a key beneficiary of the town’s festive economic system within the years forward.
