[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised all intending travellers to stop patronising unregistered travel agents, who reportedly defraud air passengers about N1billion annually.
NCAA, which issued the warning in Lagos, said the caution became necessary in view of the complaints it has received in recent times.
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA) had raised the alarm over the number of Nigerians who have fallen victims of these illegal travelling agencies that issue dud flight tickets and reservation papers and collect money from travellers without paying the airlines.
NANTA had also introduced identity cards for genuine operators who are also members of the association in order to eliminate the operations of the unregistered travel agents.
In a statement signed by its General Manager, Public Relations, Sam Adurogboye, on Sunday, the NCAA stated, “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015, Part 18.9.1 (111), prohibits the undertaking of the business of travel agency by any person in Nigeria, without a certificate of registration or licence issued by the authority, upon fulfilment of certain requirements, including that an applicant submits evidence of membership of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents.
“In addition, Section 30 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 empowers the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to regulate, supervise and monitor the activities of travel agents in Nigeria.”
The NCAA stated that based on reports of sharp practices by unregistered travel agencies, it had directed all duly registered travel agencies to display their certificates of registration or licences in all their outlets.
It added that there were about 150 travel agencies on its register and applicants must fulfil both the International Air Transport Association and the NCAA requirements to be registered.
“The NCAA therefore reiterates that prospective passengers should do business only with travel agencies registered with the regulatory authority,” the NCAA said.