Legal practitioner and public policy advocate, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, has called on the 36 state governors, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and relevant economic and urban development commissioners to embrace Nigeria’s night-time economy as a strategic tool for job creation, crime reduction, and urban revitalization.
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In a policy advisory dated August 5, 2025, titled “Revitalizing Nigeria’s Nightlife Economy: A Strategic Pathway to Economic Growth, Job Creation, Crime Reduction, and Urban Renewal,” Ubani urged authorities to unlock the economic potential lying dormant between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“The night-time economy is not a luxury, it is a necessity in a country where over 50 million youths are seeking economic inclusion,” Ubani stated, arguing that deliberate investment in nightlife infrastructure and regulation can transform Nigeria’s economic fortunes.
According to Ubani, structured nightlife activities such as entertainment, hospitality, transportation, retail, security, and cultural expression can generate millions of jobs for Nigerian youth and women. Drawing inspiration from the UK’s Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), which sustains 1.9 million jobs, Ubani noted that Nigeria’s youthful population can surpass this with the right policies in place.
He further argued that engaging idle youth in the nightlife economy reduces vulnerability to crime, drug abuse, and extremism.
“We must replace street gangs with sound systems and structured employment. Areas with active night economies tend to record lower crime rates,” Ubani emphasized.
He also highlighted the branding potential of a safe and vibrant nightlife, saying it could reposition Nigerian cities as global destinations for entertainment, business, and cultural exchange — comparable to cities like Cape Town, Accra, and Nairobi.
Ubani proposed a phased implementation strategy:
- Short-Term (0–1 year): Constitute night economy task forces, conduct feasibility studies, and pilot safe night zones.
- Medium-Term (1–3 years): Develop Night Economy Districts (NEDs), institutionalize police-community partnerships, and support youth-led cooperatives.
- Long-Term (3–5 years): Expand 24-hour economies to more cities, create a Night Economy Dashboard to monitor growth, and use data for evidence-based policymaking.
Ubani’s advisory ends with a rallying call to action:
“Let us awaken Nigeria’s nights, not into chaos, but into commerce, culture, and civic pride. Let us keep our youth engaged, not in violence or addiction, but in productive enterprise.”
He urged leaders to reimagine Nigerian cities as vibrant, secure ecosystems that support 24-hour economic activity and elevate the nation’s global image.
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