NANTA has accused three airlines of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty by refusing to sell tickets in naira despite improved forex liquidity.
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has condemned three international airlines for continuing to sell tickets exclusively in United States dollars, describing the practice as damaging to the naira and disrespectful to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
NANTA President, Yinka Folarin, told The PUNCH that while most carriers have reverted to accepting the local currency, “only about three airlines are still selling exclusively in dollars.”
He added: “We are not allowed to name these airlines due to professional ethics and anti-competition regulations, but their actions are clear: they are punishing the naira, excluding it from trade within its own country.”
Folarin noted that liquidity in the foreign exchange market has improved and over 30 airlines now repatriate funds without difficulty. “There is no justifiable reason for this anymore… it’s simply arrogance,” he declared, urging stakeholders to align with Nigeria’s economic recovery agenda.
Aviation expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd.), warned that if the government has settled outstanding remittances, the airlines’ stance is unjustifiable.
“If a foreign airline continues to take dollars for ticket sales, it should be stopped and investigated,” he said.