Dollar ticket sales will soon end, says NANTA President
Hails Air Peace as symbol of national pride
By Maureen Aguta
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Yinka Folami, has declared that the era of selling airline tickets in foreign currency is drawing to a close, as government reforms begin to stabilise the aviation and forex markets.
Speaking on Creative Nigeria, a tourism and cultural programme aired on Mainland 98.3 FM, Lagos, and hosted by journalists Frank Meke and Bunmi Bade-Adeniji, Folami said the practice of dollarising ticket sales in Nigeria was “an outdated system that will soon fade away.”
“There is no need to sell in foreign currency again,” he said. “The government is addressing the issue, and we are confident that ticket sales in naira will soon be fully restored.”
He commended the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for reforms aimed at stabilising the naira and bringing greater transparency to the foreign exchange market.
“The outlook for Nigeria’s economy is stable. Even the World Bank and IMF have commended the policy direction. The gap between official and parallel market rates is closing, liquidity has improved, and transparency is better than ever,” Folami stated.
The NANTA president described selling tickets in foreign currency as “a crime against the economy,” urging Nigerians to patronise local carriers such as Air Peace, which he praised for “taking the bull by the horns” with its London route.
“Until we have a strong Nigerian carrier to stand in the gap, these issues will persist. Air Peace has shown patriotism and leadership. It is our duty as Nigerians to support and pray for its success,” he added.
Folami noted that NANTA has over 3,500 members — 70 percent of whom are youths — and urged industry players to complement government efforts through collaboration and innovation.
“The government will not come into our sector to make the change. It is our responsibility to build on the progress already made,” he said.
He, however, lamented that many certified travel agents remain excluded from direct transactions with airlines due to the continued sale of tickets in foreign currency, despite holding international certifications.
During the discussion, aviation journalist Yusuf Babalola argued that the main challenge lies in enforcement.
“No airline is being owed; they make their money and repatriate it, yet they keep charging in dollars,” Babalola said. “In Japan, it’s illegal to spend foreign currency. You must exchange your money for yen. Nigeria needs the political will to enforce its own laws.”
Also speaking, Chinelo Agina-Obogo cited Section 20(5) of the CBN Act of 2007, which makes it a criminal offence to accept foreign currency for transactions within Nigeria. She stressed that government agencies must take enforcement seriously.
Aviation analyst Chinedu Eze applauded Air Peace’s Lagos–London route as a landmark achievement that showcases Nigeria’s tourism potential, while calling for consistency in policy implementation.
“Air Peace’s London flight succeeded because of government backing. Without that, local airlines can’t compete. Some foreign carriers manipulate public perception; government must stay firm in protecting local interests,” Eze said.
Programme host Frank Meke echoed the sentiments, commending Air Peace’s resilience and calling for transparency across the sector.
“Until we begin to name names and correct the wrongs, we’ll keep going in circles. Many agencies are frustrated by this dollarisation issue. If foreign airlines can’t play by our rules, they should ship out,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Folami urged airlines to modernise their technology systems and review the punitive Airline Debit Memos (ADMs) issued to agents, describing them as “outrageous and counterproductive.”
He reaffirmed his optimism that the government’s current policy direction will soon end the sale of tickets in dollars — restoring fairness, inclusiveness, and stability to Nigeria’s aviation industry.