The President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Yinka Folami, has declared that the sale of airline tickets in foreign currency is nearing its end, as the federal government intensifies reforms in the aviation and foreign exchange sectors.
Speaking on Creative Nigeria, a cultural and tourism programme on Mainland 98.3 FM, Lagos, hosted by Frank Meke and Bunmi Bade-Adeniji, Folami described dollarisation in the aviation industry as “an outdated system” that undermines economic growth.
“There is no need to sell in foreign currency again. Cross-border trading in foreign currency is a crime against the economy. The government is squarely addressing the issue, and the end is in sight.”
Folami commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its ongoing reforms, noting that the naira’s stabilisation and greater transparency in the forex market are restoring confidence in the economy.
“The outlook for Nigeria is stable. Even the World Bank and IMF have commended the government’s economic direction. The gap between official and parallel market rates is closing, liquidity has improved, and transparency is increasing,” he added.
The NANTA president also hailed Air Peace for breaking new ground with its Lagos–London route, describing the development as a milestone for indigenous aviation and a call for national solidarity.
“Until we have a strong Nigerian carrier to stand in the gap, these issues will persist. Air Peace has taken the bull by the horns, and it is our national duty to support and pray for its success,” he said.
Folami, whose association has over 3,500 members, 70 percent of whom are youths, urged travel agencies to align with government policy and complement reforms through responsible industry practices.
“The government will not come into our sector to make the change; it’s our responsibility to build on the progress already made,” he stressed.
However, he lamented that many certified NANTA agents are still excluded from direct dealings with airlines due to the lingering use of foreign currency in ticket pricing.
Aviation journalist Yusuf Babalola also noted that while government reforms are commendable, enforcement remains weak.
“No airline is being owed; they make their money and repatriate it, yet continue to charge in dollars. In Japan, it’s illegal to spend foreign currency – we need that level of political will,” he said.
Similarly, Chinelo Agina-Obogo cited Section 20(5) of the CBN Act (2007), which prohibits accepting foreign currency as payment in Nigeria, urging stricter enforcement.
Analyst Chinedu Eze praised Air Peace for projecting Nigeria’s aviation capacity globally but cautioned the government to maintain consistent policies that favour local airlines.
Meanwhile, the Host, Frank Meke, called for fairness and transparency, saying, “If foreign airlines can’t play by our rules, they should ship out.”
