NANTA President Hints FG Plans End to Dollar Ticket Sales By Foreign Airlines
The Federal Government is set to stop foreign airlines from selling flight tickets in United States dollars, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Yinka Folami, has revealed.
Speaking during a cultural and tourism programme held in Lagos over the weekend, Folami described the practice of ticket sales in foreign currency as “a crime against the Nigerian economy,” noting that it violates existing monetary regulations and places unnecessary pressure on the naira.
According to him, the government has commenced concrete steps to end the controversial practice, which has long been a source of frustration for Nigerian travelers and travel agencies.
“Those of us in the aviation space understand that until we have a strong Nigerian carrier to stand in the gap, these issues will persist,” Folami stated. “I am happy to inform Nigerians that the government is squarely addressing the issue of ticket sales in foreign currency, and that is the latest update on the matter.”
The NANTA president explained that selling tickets in dollars contravenes Nigeria’s financial laws and undermines efforts to stabilise the exchange rate.
He added that the move by some international airlines to price their tickets in foreign currencies amounts to economic sabotage, as it forces Nigerian travelers to seek dollars in a market already strained by scarcity.
Folami, however, acknowledged the government’s commitment to restoring sanity in the aviation sector, stressing that collaboration between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Ministry of Aviation, and travel agencies will be crucial to the success of the policy.
“The government has listened to our concerns. We expect that in the coming months, there will be clear enforcement measures to ensure that all airlines comply with the directive to sell tickets in naira, as stipulated by law,” he added.
He also urged Nigerians to support indigenous airlines and patronize local travel agencies, emphasizing that strengthening the domestic aviation industry would reduce dependence on foreign carriers and help stabilize the naira.
The planned enforcement marks a renewed effort by the Tinubu administration to protect the nation’s foreign reserves and restore confidence in the local currency amid ongoing economic reforms.
