The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies expressed confidence that the Federal Government’s intervention will curb market suppression in the country’s travel industry, praising the Ministry of Aviation for measures designed to safeguard fair competition and foster sector growth.

NANTA President Yinka Folami said the Association’s proposals have been positively received by the authorities. “The Ministry of Aviation has accepted our proposal on paper, with good administrative faith. The minister is not comfortable with any activities of any player that will suppress the Nigerian travel sector market,” he said.

Folami also revealed that discussions were already underway at various levels of government.

“I am aware that inter-agency and inter-departmental meetings are on, and the whole idea is to stop any form of suppression of the Nigerian market,” he said.

He stated that the association is encouraged by the government’s response and remains hopeful that corrective measures will be implemented soon.

“So, to that extent, the Ministry of Aviation has been responsive, and we are quite optimistic that this issue will be addressed and stopped once and for all. And I am aware that that is the position of the Ministry. We want that issue to be stopped once and for all,” he added.

Folami further explained that travel agencies anticipate being included in the next phase of deliberations.

“I believe that at a later stage, the Ministry will extend those meetings to the travel agency community so that we can feed them back with what the present level of activities is,” he noted.

NANTA recently voiced concerns over certain practices by some foreign airlines, which have been accused of limiting ticket availability and restricting access to lower fare classes for Nigerian passengers.

The association noted that these actions distort the market, harm travel agencies, and place an additional burden on consumers, many of whom are already struggling with high travel costs amid foreign exchange shortages.