Digitnomics 
Nigeria recorded a sharp rise in consumer spending during the 2026 Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr season, with premium card transactions on Visa growing by 20% year-on-year, according to new insights released by global payments company Visa.
The report, compiled through Visa Consulting & Analytics’ (VCA) Retail Spend Monitor, showed increased spending across travel, food, retail and hospitality categories during the festive period, reflecting stronger consumer activity and changing payment habits among Nigerians.
According to the report, inbound travel spending by international visitors using Visa premium consumer cards in Nigeria rose by 40%, driven largely by visitors from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Outbound international travel spending by Nigerians also climbed by about 20%, with the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and France emerging as major destinations. The report noted that about 70% of trips were booked within one month of travel, highlighting a growing preference for shorter booking windows.
Consumer spending patterns also shifted significantly during Ramadan. Food and grocery spending increased by 25% in the week preceding the fasting period compared to the previous week, as households stocked up on essentials. Late-night transactions between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. surged by 35% during Ramadan, reflecting changing lifestyles and shopping habits during the season.
The Eid Al-Fitr celebration further accelerated spending momentum. Total consumer spending during the Eid period rose by 25% compared to the preceding days, while spending on food and restaurants jumped by 80%.
Speaking on the development, Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Country Manager for Visa in West Africa, said the spending surge reflected increased travel activity and resilient local consumption.
“The Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr period saw higher spending across travel and everyday retail categories, reflecting both inbound visitor activity and sustained local spending. These insights highlight how consumer behavior shifts during key seasonal moments and underscore the opportunity for businesses to respond with more relevant and seamless commerce experiences,” he said.
Also commenting, Nicolas Khoury, Senior Vice President and Head of Visa Consulting & Analytics for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, said the report provides merchants and financial institutions with deeper insight into evolving seasonal spending behaviour.
According to him, the insights can help businesses design more targeted offers and payment experiences that align with changing consumer needs.
Digitnomics Insight
The latest Visa spending data underscores Nigeria’s accelerating shift toward a digitally driven consumer economy, where seasonal commerce is increasingly powered by electronic payments, travel-tech platforms and real-time retail transactions.
The strong growth in premium card spending also signals rising confidence among middle- and upper-income consumers despite broader economic pressures. More importantly, the increase in late-night transactions and short-notice travel bookings points to a more mobile-first and convenience-focused consumer culture.
For fintechs, banks and merchants, the trend presents fresh opportunities to deepen digital payment adoption through personalised offers, embedded finance solutions and targeted seasonal campaigns. It also reinforces how festive periods are becoming critical revenue windows within Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital commerce ecosystem.
