International air passengers are dumping Nigerian airports for Cotonou, Benin Republic, and Ghana airports to connect international flights, due to the exorbitant airfare by foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen on Friday, during a press conference over the unjustifiable profiteering by foreign carriers, the president, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA), Susan Akporiaye, said Nigerians are travelling across the borders in droves in order to connect cheaper flights to their destinations.
According to her, the lower inventories that are shut against Nigerians are opened in other neighbouring countries, thereby forcing Nigerians to seek cheaper flights in those countries.
She, however, said even though they have reached out to the foreign airline operators, their responses are unconvincing, noting that the fares are selfish, unreasonable and exploitative.
NANTA disclosed that it lost between $450 million to $500 million in revenue in one year as a result of the drop in ticket sales.
Akporiaye, however, stated that the foreign airlines haven’t increased fares; rather, they shut down lower inventories against Nigerians and travel agents.
Also speaking, a former NANTA National Financial Secretary, Daisi Olotu, disclosed that Nigerians are taking scarce dollars across the borders to purchase tickets in neighboring countries.
According to him, the Nigerian government is losing money while the governments of neighboring countries are making money from ticket sales and foreign exchange. He said people fly from Lagos to Ghana, buy tickets, and fly out from there.
“Nigerian government is losing money and Cotonou government are making huge money from the activities of foreign airlines against Nigerians and our country”, he started.
