By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Government has threatened to sanction foreign airlines in the country that refuse to accept naira payment for flight tickets.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known at a briefing on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said intelligence reports indicated that some of the airlines refuse to sell in naira, but charge ticket fares in dollars instead, in violation of Nigerian laws.
The minister disclosed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been directed to deal with any of such airlines that are caught flouting the laws.
Sirika further cautioned them to refrain from using the social media to place their demands rather than resorting to the diplomatic channels.
He disclosed that foreign airlines have made over $1.1 billion so far from Nigeria since 2016, an amount which could have remained in the country if they were local airlines.
He added that the airlines remitted over $600 million to their home countries in 2016, while over $265 million has also been released this year.
