NANTA to focus on strategic policies for downstream section at 43rd AGM

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has announced that it will hold its 43rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a focus on developing strategic policies for the sustainability and growth of the travel and tourism industry.

This event is coming at a time when the downstream sector of the aviation industry has lamented over weak policies of the government, making it impossible to protect the travel agencies.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the AGM in Lagos, Bernard Bankole, president of NANTA said the event which will holds on March 27 at the Muson Centre, Lagos will draw government’s attention to implementing policies that will sustain and grow the travel and tourism industry.

“We are hoping that at the next level of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, we will have a road map for the travel and tourism industry. Ethiopia is sustained by their aviation sector. Why can’t Nigeria thrive and survive on aviation if the right policies are in place?

“Government needs to look at the downstream sector to ensure it implements policies that protect indigenous players, encourage professionalism and ensure the industry is rid of fraudulent practices,” Bankole added. He said the key note speaker for the event will be Muhtar Usman, the director general NCAA, while Hadi Sirika, minister of state, aviation and Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture will be Special Guests of Honour at the occasion.

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Also speaking at the event, Susan Akporiaye said that in Nigeria, the tourism industry has taken a back stage and there is a need for the private sector to get close to the government so they can also influence policy implementation for the downstream sector.

“A lot of countries thrive on tourism and travel and Nigeria cannot be left behind. People need to know the potentials inherent in the sector. If we don’t have the right policies, there is little we can do to realise these potentials. This is why this AGM will address policies that can help us a as a nation realise these huge potentials inherent in the downstream sector,” Akporiaye added.

IFEOMA OKEKE

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.