Nigerians lament as Christmas decorations get pricey

A cross section of Nigerians have lamented the soaring prices of Christmas decorations as the festive season approaches.

They told our correspondent on Monday in Abuja that Christmas decorations have become unaffordable for the average income earner.

Mrs Chinaza Okafor, a business woman, said the sale of Christmas decorations had been slow.

According to her, Christmas trees which were usually in high demand, have been shunned this season.

“A right feet Christmas tree now costs N90,000, as against N40,000 in 2024.

“People are settling for tortoise-leaf potted plants, which cost ₦75,000,” she said.

Okafor described the decline in the sale of Christmas decorations as saddening.

A hamper seller in Wuse market, Mr Sule Abdulkareem, said the high cost of condiments such as corn flakes, custard, and beverages used in hampers had made them expensive.

“Our hampers range from N50,000, which is the cheapest, to N250,000 for the more expensive ones.

”We don’t make much profit on the hampers, although we have recorded some sales because people have come to buy for their families,” he said.

Similarly, another seller, Mr Yusuf Mohammed, said he was anticipating a decline in the purchase of Christmas decorations this year due to their skyrocketed prices,

According to him, big Christmas hats are being sold for N3,000, while the small caps go for N1,500.

“Christmas light costs N4,000, while shiny decorations goes for N1000 each,” he said.

Meanwhile, a customer, Mrs Bose Ayodele, said she came to buy caps for her children to wear for their Christmas party.

She says, “With the current price of Christmas decorations, I think I will just make them use the old ones.

“My children wanted me to get new caps for them, and that is why I am here,” she said.

Another customer, Mr Peter Nnaemeka, who came to purchase hampers for his colleagues described the situation as worrisome.

According to him, their company buys hampers for its members staff at the end of the year as rewards.

“A hamper which costed N18,000 last year costs about N50,000 this year. Everything has skyrocketed”, he said.