The Federal Government is set to stop the sale of flight tickets in dollars by foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, according to the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Yinka Folami.
Folami disclosed this while speaking at a cultural and tourism programme held in Lagos over the weekend. He described the ongoing practice of selling flight tickets in foreign currencies as “a crime against the economy,” stressing that it places undue pressure on the naira and violates existing regulations.
“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,” he said. “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.”
He explained that the Federal Government’s move follows repeated complaints from travel agencies, who have long decried the impact of dollar-denominated ticket sales on businesses and travellers.
According to Folami, the practice of selling tickets in foreign currencies has become outdated and will soon fade out as the government takes concrete action to protect the integrity of the naira and promote fair trade within the aviation sector.
He further emphasized the importance of having strong local airlines that can compete effectively in the international market. To that end, he urged Nigerians to support Air Peace, commending the airline for launching direct flights from Lagos and Abuja to London.
Folami described Air Peace’s expansion as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation history, calling it an act of patriotism deserving national support and prayers for its sustainability.
What you should know
The Federal Government plans to end the sale of flight tickets in dollars by foreign airlines to ease pressure on the naira.
NANTA President Yinka Folami confirmed the development, urging Nigerians to support Air Peace as a homegrown alternative in strengthening the nation’s aviation industry.
