Spending on Visa premium consumer cards in Nigeria rose sharply during the 2026 Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr season, driven by increased travel activity, higher grocery purchases, and a surge in food-related spending around the festive period.
According to the latest consumer spending insights released by Visa, spending on premium consumer cards increased by 20 percent year-on-year during the Ramadan and Eid period, while spend share rose by 10 percentage points, reflecting stronger usage across travel, retail, and dining categories.
The data, compiled through the Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) Retail Spend Monitor, showed that inbound travel spending into Nigeria by international visitors using Visa premium cards rose by 40 percent during the season. Spending from travellers originating from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada also increased by about 40 percent.
The report also highlighted growing outbound travel demand from Nigerian consumers. International travel spending from Nigeria on Visa premium cards climbed by roughly 20 percent, with the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and France emerging among the most popular destinations.
Visa noted that travel booking behaviour leaned heavily toward short-term planning, with about 70 percent of trips booked within one month of departure.
Consumer spending patterns during Ramadan also revealed notable changes in shopping habits. In the week preceding Ramadan, spending on food and groceries increased by 25 percent compared to the previous week, signalling stock-up purchases ahead of the fasting period.
The report further showed that spending activity shifted later into the night during Ramadan, with transactions between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. rising by 35 percent compared to non-Ramadan weeks, reflecting lifestyle adjustments associated with fasting and late-night meals.
Spending activity reached its highest point during the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. Total spending during the Eid period, from March 16 to March 19, rose by 25 percent compared to the preceding days. Food and restaurant spending recorded the sharpest increase, surging by 80 percent during the festive period.
Andrew Uaboi, vice president and country manager for Visa in West Africa, said the spending trends reflected both increased visitor activity and resilient domestic consumption during one of the region’s key seasonal periods.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The VCA Retail Spend Monitor tracked retail, travel, and experience-related spending activity between February 20 and March 20, 2026, using a subset of VisaNet transaction data alongside survey-based estimates covering other payment methods.
Nicolas Khoury, senior vice president and head of Visa Consulting & Analytics for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, said the data provides merchants and financial institutions with deeper visibility into seasonal consumer trends.
“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,” he said.
“These insights help issuers and merchants better understand seasonal behaviour and design offers and experiences that remain relevant as consumer needs change.”
Chinwe Michael
Chinwe Michael is a financial inclusion advocate and economy journalist who uses compelling storytelling to drive awareness. With a background in Banking and Finance and experience across accounting, media, and education, she applies sharp analysis and attention to detail to every piece. She simplifies complex financial and economy concepts into engaging content for Africa and global audience. Chinwe also doubles as a speaker with global recognition for her expertise.
