NCAA Warns Foreign Airlines Against Selling Tickets in Dollars

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has warned airlines to stop selling tickets in dollars, stating that such practice contravenes the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s regulations guiding the foreign exchange management on products or services cost in Nigeria.

NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye said the NCAA is concerned by the reports indicating that some foreign carriers are declining receipt of Nigeria’s local currency – the naira, for payment of tickets.

The aviation regulator scribe who cited a CBN circular issued on April 17, last year, said it amounted to an infraction for airlines, or any organization to price or denominate the cost of any product or service in any foreign currency .

“All Airlines selling flight tickets in dollars should desist forthwith as it is a flagrant contravention of the CBN’s prerequisite guiding cost of products or services in Nigeria,” Adurogboye said.

He stated that the CBN in the circular directed that “pricing of any product shall continue to be in naira only and it is illegal to price or denominate the cost of any product or service (visible or invisible) in any foreign currency”.

The regulatory body said it is disturbed by reports that some foreign airlines are declining to accept the naira as payment for tickets.