As millions of Nigerians celebrate Christmas today, the joy of the festive season has been overshadowed by widespread frustrations over deteriorating electricity supply, unreliable telecommunications services, and exorbitant domestic airfares.

These issues have compounded economic hardships, making travel, communication, and basic home comforts increasingly difficult for many households.

Many Nigerians are spending Christmas in darkness, with prolonged blackouts reported across major cities including Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Ibadan, and Kano.

Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu assured citizens on December 24 that supply would be restored within 48 hours following disruptions caused by an explosion on the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline and vandalism in the Niger Delta.

However, outages persisted into Christmas Day, leaving residents reliant on solar energy, generators amid high fuel costs.

Experts and consumer groups have criticized the power sector's ongoing failures, noting that despite tariff hikes for premium "Band A" customers promising 20-22 hours of daily supply, delivery has fallen short.

Telecommunications have also drawn sharp criticism, with subscribers reporting persistent dropped calls, slow internet, and network failures, as issues exacerbated during the high-traffic holiday period.

A 50% tariff increase approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission in early 2025 was meant to fund improvements, but many describe service quality as the worst in years.

Domestic air travel, a popular option for festive reunions, has become prohibitively expensive due to surging fares.

One-way tickets on routes like Lagos to Owerri, Enugu, or Asaba now cost between N400,000 and N480,000, with return trips exceeding N700,000 in some cases. This represents a sharp rise from earlier in the year, driven by high demand, limited aircraft availability, inflation, and operational costs.

Passengers and lawmakers have decried the hikes, with the House of Representatives calling for tax reliefs and reduced airport charges to ease the burden. Many have resorted to road travel despite security concerns on highways.

These challenges come against a backdrop of inflation and cost-of-living pressures, making the 2025 festive season particularly strained.

Reports highlight how high living costs have put traditional celebrations "out of reach" for many families.

Despite the difficulties, Nigerians continue to find ways to celebrate, emphasizing resilience and community.

Authorities urged patience as repairs and reforms are underway, but calls for accountability and swift improvements grow louder.