The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has announced that the country’s aviation industry will soon put an end to the sale of airline tickets in foreign currencies.
NANTA President, Mr. Folami, made the disclosure during an interview on Mainland 98.3 FM’s Creative Nigeria. He said the federal government is actively addressing the issue, adding that eliminating dollar transactions in ticket sales would strengthen the naira and support local airlines like Air Peace.
Folami described the continued “dollarisation” of the aviation sector as a harmful and outdated practice, calling it “a crime against the economy.” He praised Air Peace for its patriotic role in launching international routes such as Lagos–London, which he said symbolises national pride and economic independence.
“Until we have a strong Nigerian carrier to stand in the gap, these challenges will persist. I’m glad to inform Nigerians that the government is now tackling the foreign currency ticket sales problem head-on,” Folami said.
He commended ongoing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reforms, noting improvements in liquidity, transparency, and exchange rate stability. According to him, even international bodies like the World Bank and IMF have acknowledged the country’s improving economic outlook.
Folami urged travel agencies and industry stakeholders to support the government’s policies through cooperation and innovation.
“The government can’t come into our sector to fix everything — it’s our responsibility to build on the progress already made,” he stated.
He revealed that NANTA has more than 3,500 members, 70% of whom are young professionals, stressing that patronizing local travel agencies and airlines would create jobs and strengthen the domestic economy.
Other aviation experts, including Yusuf Babalola, Chinelo Agina-Obogo, and Chinedu Eze, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement of the CBN Act (Section 20[5]), which prohibits the use of foreign currencies for local transactions.
They also commended Air Peace for breaking barriers in international aviation, calling for consistent government support for indigenous airlines.
Program host Frank Meke concluded by urging regulators to “name names and enforce the rules,” saying the aviation sector can only progress when all players operate under fair and transparent policies.
