The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents has petitioned the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority over the sales of air tickets in foreign currencies by some international airlines.
This act negates the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, a treaty to which Nigeria is a party.
This was made known on Tuesday during a stakeholders meeting convened by the NCAA at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos to address many issues confronting the aviation industry in Nigeria.
The summit with the theme ‘Achieving Increased Adoption of Digital Technology in Air Travel Customer Complaint Management: The Regulatory Perspective,’ saw industry leaders and players vent their anger on issues of concern while suggesting different possible ways out of the issues.
During the event, stakeholders complained about the number of international airlines that take dollars as legal tender emphasising that the numbers have grown in numbers over the years.
The PUNCH understands that aside from the United States airlines, which had an Open Skies agreement with Nigeria that enables its carriers to sell tickets in dollars, other airlines are required to sell tickets in naira for flights emanating from the country.
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 over the development, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, Yinka Folami, concurred with the yearnings of the stakeholders, saying the association had petitioned the NCAA.
Folami 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 responding, Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the NCAA, confirmed the receipt of the letter by NANTA but said the issue would be addressed by the appropriate department very soon.
“I can confirm that NANTA has written to us about the matter and the appropriate quarters will act on it very soon.”
Industry stakeholders, especially airline owners were also enjoined to comply with Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023 in passenger compensation.
The section of the NCAA regulations gave step-by-step rules of what is accruable to a passenger whose flight has either been delayed or canceled.
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.
According to him, no fewer than seven cases of poor passenger handling, especially physically challenged, were being pursued in different courts across the country by its chambers.
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.”
Present at the event, are top officers from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, among others.
By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan @ThePUNCH
