My people, make I jell you, as we dey enter Christmas 2025, flights for Nigeria don turn luxury wey we nor fit shout ‘bueno’ again! As the airfares dey soar like eagle, everybody dey wonder wetin happen sharp sharp.

Omo, this year, dem say na ‘perfect storm’ wey create this wahala. Factors wey dey play na high aviation fuel price, currency wahala (Naira don hit ₦1,466.5/$1), plus airlines wey dey use this ‘bucket’ pricing system wey go address e no get beta kanju. Early bookers dey grab seats like say dem be hot cake, as dem dey fly for ₦100,000, while latecomers dey face ticket rise like mad! 300% to 400% increase? Chai!

Abuja dey shine for dis matter as na im remain the most affordable place to fly this Christmas. From Lagos to Abuja, fare start from ₦145,000 to ₦149,420—thank God for United Nigeria Airlines, Air Peace, and Max Air wey dey compete like say na World Cup. But as for South-East and South-South, my eye don tear for prices wey dey make people dey faint!

Many Nigerians wey dey travel from abroad or Lagos dey find better way to return home. E no be joke, as family reunion be key for dem. Dem don turn ticket purchase to ‘peace of mind’ investment. One brother wey dey Lagos, Emeka, talk say: ‘I don spend my whole 13th-month salary just to fly go see my papa and mama for Enugu! E dey pain me, but road security na serious wahala!’ Omo, you no go blame am; safety na number one priority!

This ‘Yuletide Squeeze’ na big wahala for pockets, fit shake our culture wey dey value family. Many people don miss their September and October booking window, but e still remain small ways to manage the cost. Air travel don turn luxury for Nigeria, and I dey believe say we go see better regulation to curtail this high prices soon.

As we dey look sky wey don full with travelers dey battle how to reach destination, whether dem dey land for the sweet hills of Enugu or the hustle and bustle of Port Harcourt, one thing sure: everybody dey ready to make this Christmas one to remember, no matter how much e go cost.