Visa has reported a surge in consumer spending across Nigeria during the 2026 Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr period, with premium card usage rising sharply on the back of increased travel, retail, and food-related transactions.

According to its latest Visa Consulting & Analytics, VCA, Retail Spend Monitor, spending on Visa premium consumer cards in Nigeria rose by 20 per cent year-on-year during the period under review, while spend share increased by 10 percentage points.

The growth was driven largely by heightened activity in travel, everyday retail, and food categories.

The report showed that Nigeria also recorded strong inbound travel activity, with spending by international visitors using Visa premium cards rising by 40 per cent. Visitors from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada accounted for most of the increase.

Outbound travel from Nigeria also climbed, with international spending on Visa premium cards up about 20 per cent. Travel demand showed a shift towards shorter booking cycles, with 70 per cent of trips booked within one month of departure. Key destinations included the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and France, where spending increased by 40 per cent.

Spending patterns during Ramadan reflected both pre-fasting preparations and in-period consumption. In the week leading up to Ramadan (February 12–18), food and grocery spending rose by 25 per cent compared to the previous week. The report also noted a shift in consumption timing, with late-night spending between 1am and 4am increasing by 35 per cent compared to non-Ramadan weeks.

Activity peaked during Eid Al-Fitr, with total spending rising by 25 per cent between March 16 and 19 compared to the preceding days. Within the same period, spending on food and restaurants surged by 80 per cent, underscoring the strong social and celebratory nature of the holiday.

Commenting on the findings, the Vice President and Country Manager for Visa in West Africa, Andrew Uaboi, said the season reflected a broad uplift in both domestic and international 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 behaviour shifts during key seasonal moments and underscore the opportunity for businesses to respond with more relevant and seamless commerce experiences,” he said.

The VCA Retail Spend Monitor, produced by Visa Consulting & Analytics, tracked retail, travel, and experience-related spending between February 20 and March 20, 2026, using a subset of VisaNet data, complemented by survey-based estimates for other payment methods.

Senior Vice President and Head of Visa Consulting & Analytics for CEMEA, Nicolas Khoury, said the data provides clearer visibility into seasonal spending behaviour.

“The VCA Retail Spend Monitor provides a view of how consumer spending evolves across the Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr period, from changes in travel patterns to shifts in everyday spending. These insights help issuers and merchants better understand seasonal behaviour and design offers and experiences that remain relevant as consumer needs change,” he said.