Travel agents challenge foreign airlines over ‘dollar-only’ ticket sales

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has lamented the growing trend of foreign airlines mandating air ticket sales exclusively in US dollars.

​Speaking at a press conference highlighting activities around the 50th anniversary of NANTA, Yinka Folami, NANTA president, characterised the exclusion of the naira from international travel transactions as a “disrespectful” breach of the country’s legal tender laws.

​While acknowledging the bilateral air service agreements (BASA) that govern international flight operations, Folami clarified that these frameworks were intended to provide payment alternatives — not to serve as a legal shield for the total rejection of the Nigerian currency.

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​The controversy underscores a deepening friction between the operational preferences of global carriers and the statutory rights of the Nigerian travelling public. According to Folami, the insistence on dollar-denominated sales creates a barrier for local travellers and undermines the integrity of the domestic financial ecosystem.

​Protecting the naira’s status

​He called for a balanced regulatory approach that protects the status of the naira as the primary medium of exchange. Folami said it was disappointing that airlines were insisting on US dollar sales despite the government’s successful fiscal direction and reforms.

​”It is disrespectful when you exclude naira from the transaction. So what we are complaining about is those airlines that sell in US dollars alone. It is wrong,” the NANTA president said. Folami said that visa restrictions are increasing and global trust is eroding with growing airline debit memos that could damage businesses.

​He also expressed concerns over cross-border trading that is now on a downward trend, anti-competitive practices, and the misinterpretation and misapplication of tax policies on NANTA members. He noted, however, that he is convinced these “red flags” do not reflect the ethnic depth and values of Nigeria.

​Folami insisted that NANTA is committed to repositioning itself to counter harsh headlines against Nigeria and correct public perception. The association is dissociating completely from all forms of illegality and misconduct in the sector.

​”The fraudsters are not us. We are stepping forward as unofficial diplomats of Nigeria. We will use our platform to correct narratives and restore confidence,” Folami said. “We have done this successfully in the past at the World Travel Market, and in South Africa, Turkey, and the Gambia.”

​He added that the association wants to convert travellers into positive influencers of Nigeria globally, supported by a new professional structure. The NANTA training committee has evolved into a fully registered professional body: the NANTA Training Institute for Travel Professionals Limited/GTE.

​Institutional reset at 50

​”The best way to protect our members and stand up for the industry is to raise standards, enforce discipline, and ensure that professionalism is not optional,” Folami said. “We call on the government to deploy regulation and protect our market, our travellers, and our small business sector.”

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​Speaking on the 50th anniversary of NANTA, themed “Redefining Our Role as Global Travel Ambassadors,” he said Ibadan was chosen as the location for this year’s event because it is a “cradle of values, leadership, and history.” At 50, the association is returning to a location that represents its foundation for a “reset” of the industry.

​For five decades, NANTA has organised travel trade, supported government policy compliance, and built industry structures. Today, the association represents more than 3,500 trained professionals across the country.

​Folami disclosed that several high-profile officials have confirmed their attendance, including the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and representatives from the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. Other confirmed guests include the Kenya High Commissioner, the president of the United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA), and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi.