The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents has formally petitioned the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority over the sale of air tickets in foreign currencies by certain international airlines.
This practice violates the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, which Nigeria has signed.
The issue was disclosed on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held by the NCAA at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to address challenges in the Nigerian aviation sector.
The summit, themed “Achieving Increased Adoption of Digital Technology in Air Travel Customer Complaint Management: The Regulatory Perspective,” provided a platform for industry leaders and stakeholders to express concerns about key issues in the aviation sector.
Participants proposed various solutions to address these challenges, focusing on leveraging digital technology for improved customer complaint management.
At the event, stakeholders raised concerns about the increasing number of international airlines accepting dollars as legal tender for ticket sales in Nigeria.
It is reported that, apart from U.S. airlines operating under an Open Skies agreement with Nigeria—allowing them to sell tickets in dollars—other international airlines are mandated to sell tickets in naira for flights originating from Nigeria.
But, over time, some of the foreign carriers had continually violated this agreement with Nigeria, while no major punitive measures had been taken against them.
After stakeholders raised concerns about the issue, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, Yinka Folami, agreed with their views and confirmed that the association had petitioned the NCAA on the matter.
Flaring said, “ We have taken the matter up and we have also written to the NCAA about the same development and they told us that they are looking into the matter already.”
Also commenting, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, confirmed receiving NANTA’s petition and assured that the matter would be addressed by the appropriate department shortly.
“I can confirm that NANTA has written to us about the matter and the appropriate quarters will act on it very soon.”
Industry stakeholders, particularly airline owners, were urged to comply with Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023 regarding passenger compensation.
This section outlines detailed rules on the entitlements of passengers affected by flight delays or cancellations.
Speaking for passengers at the event, First Baba Isa, a lawyer, in his keynote address, complained that airlines, both local and international, have in most cases refused to effectively undertake their own side of the bargain especially when passengers’ rights are violated.
He revealed that no fewer than seven cases of poor passenger handling, particularly involving physically challenged individuals, are currently being pursued in various courts across the country by the NCAA’s legal team.
He said, “Airlines should address the issue of refund to air travellers. There are no fewer than seven cases that I am attending to in the courts against some local and foreign carriers, especially the poor way they handle disabled passengers
“It is essential to make the airlines accountable to air passengers in case of flight cancellations, delays and overbooking. Adequate compensation in line with the NCARs 2023 must be paid to the affected passengers.”
