NANTA Condemns Foreign Airlines Selling Tickets in Dollars

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA) has publicly condemned the decision by foreign airlines to sell tickets exclusively in US dollars, arguing that this practice is detrimental to Nigeria's economic interests. NANTA's president, Yinka Folami, criticized this action during a press conference in Lagos, marking the association's 50th anniversary.

He stated that while bilateral air service agreements allow foreign airlines to operate in Nigeria, they should not exclusively transact in dollars, as it breaches the country's legal tender laws. Folami highlighted that such practices create barriers for local travel and undermine the domestic financial ecosystem.

He expressed concern over increasing visa restrictions for Nigerian travelers and the growing distrust in global travel. Folami also noted that the insistence on dollar transactions disregards the Nigerian government's fiscal reforms and called for a balanced regulatory approach to protect the naira as the primary medium of exchange.