BY ANTHONY OMOH
Travel agents and trade partners have expressed frustration over the continuous sale of tickets in US dollars by foreign airlines, the United Arab Emirates’ rescinded 96-hour visa policy, and a string of recent travel restrictions that have made international movement more difficult.
Many agents now say that destinations such as Doha, Qatar, have seen an increase in passenger traffic since the UAE visa incident. African travel markets are also benefiting from this shift. As access to traditional hubs becomes more restricted or costly, travellers are increasingly exploring alternatives with fewer barriers and more flexible entry options.
Most trade partners believe the visa and fare issues—especially the mandatory dollar billing—have practically forced them out of competition, a problem worsened by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new foreign exchange transfer rule.
The agents voiced these concerns at the 13th edition of PartnerPlus Connect Live, hosted by Finchglow Travels in Lagos. Many see the recent UAE visa policy as targeted at Nigerian travellers—especially those in economy class—deliberately limiting access. According to them, it reflects ongoing diplomatic friction that led Emirates to suspend Nigerian operations for nearly two years.
Now that the airline has returned, many argue that the pricing policies and immigration challenges continue to affect operations. “The current environment is designed to frustrate us,” one travel agent stated. “Even when there’s demand, we can’t convert it to sales because everything must now be paid in dollars.”
Backing these concerns, Managing Director Finchglow Travels, Ezekiel Ikotun, described the situation as a layered crisis. “So many factors are working against us,” he said. “Most of the airlines are not really following the BASA law anymore.”
Ikotun explained that after the trapped funds debacle, many foreign carriers chose to avoid naira sales. “They’re saying they can’t return to naira because they don’t want that risk again,” he said. “Now, we have four or five airlines operating strictly on USD. With the CBN’s \$10,000 per day transfer limit, how do we even keep up?”
He warned that travel agencies are struggling to meet IATA’s remittance cycle. “If I’m dealing with five USD-based airlines and I can only pay \$10,000 daily, I can’t meet deadlines,” Ikotun said. “IATA doesn’t accept excuses. Once you default, your name goes public and your financial credibility is gone.”
Ikotun noted that up to 75% of tickets are sold by non-IATA agents, who are even more vulnerable under these conditions. “Only 25% of us are IATA-certified. Yet we’re all affected. Between high fares, booking class restrictions, and visa limits from the UK and US, basic travel has become a maze,” he added.
He also highlighted that the PartnerPlus Connect forum serves as a platform to gather in-person feedback in hopes of improving service delivery. “This is why we hold these events—two virtual, one physical—across Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja. It’s not just networking; it’s about survival,” Ikotun stressed.
While these complaints have stirred strong reactions from the industry, Emirates Airline has responded to clarify its position on some of the issues, particularly the visa confusion and dollar pricing allegations.
Senior Sales Executive at Emirates, Olucho Nwosu, addressed the claims directly, especially the idea that the 96-hour visa was being denied to economy class travellers. “There’s no witch-hunt against Nigerians,” she said. “The policy change comes from UAE immigration, not Emirates. We’re not in charge of visas.”
Nwosu clarified that changes to the 96-hour visa stemmed from policy updates during the airline’s two-year absence. “Now, only passengers connecting beyond Dubai are eligible. Those flying directly to Dubai aren’t covered under this transit visa anymore,” she said.
She also denied that the visa process is influenced by ticket class, saying Emirates treats all customers equally.
On the issue of fare billing, Nwosu said the airlines dollar fare crisis stems from broader financial and regulatory realities. She noted that the pricing model is designed to ensure operational sustainability and not intended to exclude Nigerian travellers. Meanwhile, airlines that embark on ticket sale in dollars have all attributed this to the blocked funds that Nigeria recently cleared. They claim it was the only way to continue doing business but that the situation is being looked at.
As the travel landscape continues to shift, the PartnerPlus Connect forum remains crucial for dialogue and industry resilience amid mounting pressure.
