Abuja Residents Find Creative Ways to Navigate January After December Spending

After the lavish celebrations of December, known as “detty-december” where residents partied endlessly, travelled around and indulged in frivolous shopping, residents are now facing the consequences of their actions in January.

Chinyere Okonkwo, a mother of three, describes it as “a month of reckoning.” according to her,
“We went all out for Christmas. I wanted it to be magical for my kids, but now I’m looking at my account balance and wondering how we’ll make it to the end of the month.”
Across the city, it seems to be the same, Markets are quieter than usual, with buyers prioritizing essentials over wants.

At Garki Market, Aisha Garba, a trader, shares her observations: “Last month, people were buying everything, live chickens, expensive wines, and decorations. Now, they’re asking for the
cheapest beans or small quantities of garri. It is funny.”
For many, January is a time to recalibrate and adopt a more frugal lifestyle. Michael Adamu, a software engineer who spent much of December at concerts and events, jokes about his current meal plan.

“I had an amazing December, my December was so detty. I saw all my favorite artists perform, but now it’s noodles and eggs every day. I’m on a self-imposed Detty January diet,” he laughs.
In order to survive, residents are taking the necessary steps to survive.
Samuel Ibrahim, a banker, explains how he and his friends have found a way to stretch their money.

“We pool funds to buy things in bulk—rice, oil, yams. It’s cheaper, and we split everything equally. It’s helping us get by without feeling the burden so much.”
Adaora Igwe, a university student and small business owner, has turned the quiet month into a productive one.

“January is when I really focus on my bead-making business. People are looking for affordable gifts, so I make simple pieces they can buy with little money. It’s a win-win.”
However, residents have remained optimistic that next month, normalcy will return to their finances.

“We’re Nigerians; we’ve seen tougher days,” Chinyere says with a smile.

“January will pass, and we’ll bounce back. For now, I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.”