General Manager of HEREL Play, Olatade Daranijo, has warned that Lagos’ famed “Detty December” festive rush, a major driver of tourism, hospitality, and entertainment revenue, could be at risk if rising costs and mismanaged services persist.
In an interview with ARISE News on Sunday, Daranijo explained the pressures facing the hospitality sector during the December surge. “If you look at it from the first week of December, you have traffic everywhere. Everyone is just looking for one place to go or the other. Companies are closing, offices are shutting down, everyone wants to have the end-of-year party, team bonding, and the likes. It has become really, really busy,” he said.
On rising costs, he warned that “people become a tad bit greedy…if we continue in this trajectory of abusing costs and activities, the possibility exists that people will find somewhere else to go. Ghana is trying it. Ghana is making an attempt at it, and we’ll sell Nigeria, we’ll sell Lagos as much as possible. We wouldn’t want to go as far as going that way.”
Daranijo highlighted HEREL Play’s approach to managing the festive influx, emphasizing community and experience. “The idea behind HEREL Play was, or is, community. Regardless of who you are, where you come from, wherever you work, come here, feel at home. We can accommodate 70 cars easily, we have one of the largest swimming pools in the area, an AstroTurf, a restaurant…our food is good, the pool is clean, and the environment is excellent. Today, we have the buffet running. No matter who you are, you can always come and feel at home.”
While cultural programming remains limited this year, Daranijo noted plans for next year: “With regards to culture, we haven’t really done that this year, but it is the plan for next year. Regarding cuisine, we have intercontinental meals and local dishes. Our chef is flexible; if you approach us for specific requests, we can curate and cook for you.”
On security, he observed that the festive period has been surprisingly calm. “You don’t hear so much news about security challenges in the country anymore. It goes to show that probably, people have decided, ‘Let’s have a good time, let’s not bother the next person.’ Let’s just have a good time,” Daranijo said.
He concluded by stressing the need for deliberate action to maintain Lagos’ appeal during the holiday season. “As the governor said, we need to be deliberate about what we deliver so that people don’t abuse what they come to experience in Lagos State.”
HEREL Play’s General Manager called for continued attention to costs, service quality, and community engagement to ensure Nigeria retains its reputation as a festive destination.
Boluwatife Enome
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