Beauty entrepreneur, influencer, and public commentator, Laura Ikeji Kanu, has sparked intense conversations across social media platforms after openly criticizing what she described as the rampant greed among business owners and service providers in Nigeria, particularly during the peak festive period known as “Detty December.”
In a candid video shared on her Instagram account, Laura voiced her frustration regarding the significant inflation of prices for everyday services, singling out hair braiding as a glaring example of how seasonal demand is being exploited by unscrupulous service providers. She highlighted that services which previously cost a fraction of the current rates are now being quoted at exorbitant amounts purely because it is the festive season.
According to Laura, a hairstyle she once paid ₦70,000 for prior to leaving Nigeria is now being quoted at ₦200,000, with further suggestions that clients, particularly returnees, should be charged up to ₦250,000 simply because it is December. She described this as an unreasonable practice and warned that unchecked price hikes could ruin the festive experience for Nigerians who look forward to celebrating during this period.
She emphasized that while December is traditionally a period of high sales and revenue for many businesses, taking advantage of customers by inflating prices under the guise of seasonal demand is unfair and exploitative. Laura further addressed the assumption held by some service providers that Nigerians living abroad are wealthy and can afford excessive charges. She stressed that many diaspora Nigerians are ordinary working people who save and plan to return home to enjoy themselves, not to be financially exploited.
Laura explained that the trend of overcharging, especially targeting returnees, has been ongoing and is progressively getting out of hand. She questioned the justification behind nearly tripling prices in such a short span, pointing out that even the former ₦70,000 charge for hair braiding was already quite high.
Beyond the beauty industry, Laura extended her criticism to the housing sector. She alleged that the rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb has contributed to increased housing costs nationwide. According to her, landlords have adopted a mindset inspired by high daily rental rates in the short-let market, subsequently inflating annual rents and putting additional financial strain on residents.
Reiterating her stance, Laura maintained that greed remains a significant problem affecting multiple sectors in Nigeria, and she called on business owners to act responsibly during the festive season rather than exploiting customers’ desire to celebrate. She underscored the importance of fairness, ethical business practices, and awareness of the financial realities of both local and returning Nigerians.
The video quickly gained traction online, with social media users reacting to her comments, expressing support, agreement, and in some cases sharing similar experiences of being overcharged during the holiday season. Laura’s statements ignited widespread discussion about pricing ethics, the responsibility of service providers, and the impact of seasonal exploitation on Nigerians’ holiday celebrations.
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