Moniepoint Inc. has released a new case study shifting focus from high-end “Detty December” hotspots to roadside bars, suya joints and neighbourhood lounges that drive Nigeria’s informal night economy, highlighting a sector powered largely by digital payments and early-night spending.

Titled ’The Business of Community Nightlife in Nigeria’, the report offers a data-driven insight into how money moves across the country’s nightlife ecosystem.

While upscale venues draw attention with daily revenues of N360 million and table prices of up to N1.2 million, the study centres on “community nightlife,” where millions gather nightly.

The research is based on transaction data from over 27,000 clubs, bars and lounges on Moniepoint’s network, alongside field interviews and observations across several cities.

The company said the anonymised data and field insights provide a rare look at how money, labour and social life connect after dark. It is part of its ongoing efforts to improve data visibility in Nigeria’s informal economy.

A key finding shows cash is declining in nightlife payments. Bank transfers lead, followed by card payments, while cash is discouraged due to security concerns. Transfers exceed card payments by nearly two million transactions during peak hours on the network.

The study also shows that although nightlife runs late, most spending happens earlier. Transactions rise from 8 p.m., peak before midnight and decline afterwards, even when venues remain full. Operators focus on staffing, restocking and payments between midnight and 6 a.m.

Employment figures reflect the sector’s scale. Local bars increase staff strength by 30 to 50 per cent on peak nights. At least 54,000 people are engaged in nightlife work nationwide each night.

Speaking on the findings, Tosin Eniolorunda, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc., said the sector deserves greater recognition.

“Nigeria’s local bars and night-time operators are not peripheral to the economy; they are a critical part of its architecture. We see a substantial and sustained economic sector that employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerians every night and deserves the same attention we give to agriculture, healthcare, and retail,” he said.

He added that the company aims to equip operators with tools to grow. “Our goal is to make sure every one of those businesses has the tools to grow. From giving credit to finance renovations and sound systems to providing same-day settlement that allows vendors to restock and with tools like Moniebook that power inventory management and reconciliation, Moniepoint is ensuring that this vital artery of the nation’s economy remains viable and empowering,” Eniolorunda said.