As the festive season draws closer, many Nigerian air travellers are expressing frustration over the continued sale of flight tickets in US dollars by some international airlines. Passengers fear the policy will make airfares even more expensive, pushing travel further out of reach for the average Nigerian.¹1
The dollar-only ticket policy, recently reintroduced by certain airlines, has sparked widespread anger among both passengers and aviation stakeholders. Many see it as a slight on Nigeria’s sovereignty and have called on the Federal Government to intervene immediately.
At Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, several travellers voiced their displeasure on Monday, saying the dollar requirement would only worsen the usual festive fare hikes.
The situation has been made worse by a new $11.50 charge per ticket introduced by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) under the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) initiative, effective December 1, 2025. While the NCAA says the fee is meant to enhance airport security and streamline passenger clearance, many travellers believe it will only add to their financial burden.
However, the most controversial issue remains the refusal by some foreign airlines to accept naira payments for tickets. Many Nigerians see this as both exploitative and disrespectful to the country’s legal tender.
One traveller, Aderele James, who was heading to Morocco, condemned the policy as an insult to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“I was shocked when my agent told me some airlines now take only dollars from passengers. This is Nigeria — our legal tender is the naira. Why should foreign airlines come here and dictate their own terms?” he said.
“My family and I have decided never to fly any airline that refuses to accept naira. This is completely unacceptable. The government must act.”
Another passenger, Mrs. Lawson, also vowed to boycott such airlines, describing the move as discriminatory and insensitive to Nigerians already battling economic hardship.
Reacting to the controversy, Yinka Folami, President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA), said while foreign airlines have the right to make business decisions, they must respect Nigeria’s laws.
“Excluding the naira from transactions in Nigeria is unjustifiable,” he said. “This policy puts unnecessary pressure on our currency and undermines efforts to stabilise the economy.”
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Folami urged airlines to have faith in Nigeria’s improving fiscal environment and reopen ticket sales in naira, which he said would empower local travel agents and boost economic activity.
As Christmas and New Year travel peak approaches, passengers and industry experts are calling on the government to step in — not just to protect consumer rights, but also to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and ensure citizens can pay for flights in their own currency.
