NANTA: Travel industry whistle blower

Bernard Bankole, President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (Nanta) knows that all is not too well with Nigeria’s travel and aviation industry. This unassuming and progressive young Nigerian travel trade sub- sector leader has of suddenly grown white hairs and intends not to keep quiet about it.

Though not “confrontational” like most labour leaders, he has chosen the path of strong advocacy and mediation against certain government policies that has endangered over 300,000 thousand jobs and with key investors pulling out of the sector globally considered the locomotive engine of any economy.

While Bankole “beg” government to always consult or seek the help of Nanta whenever it wish to introduce or change Nigeria travel industry policies, he also has embarked on a diplomatic mission to most foreign airlines not only to ask for their understanding and support of government attempt to arrest disturbing trends due to global face off on oil prices but largely also to empathise with them on their trapped funds which contributed to reduction and change in operational service expectations.

For instance, United Airlines and Iberia the Spanish carrier had closed down their offices in Nigeria with thousands of Nigerian operational staff thrown into job market. Also Emirate has reduced its twice daily flight into Nigeria to one, while British Airways including others are on the verge of reducing their capacity to Nigeria with smaller bodied aircrafts unlike the usual big one in place when the going was good.

Even though government may be desirous of arresting the ugly trend, Nanta President believes the forex headache shouldn’t had been allowed to fester in the first place if government economic egg heads and the central Bank of Nigeria has taken pains to consult largely, particularly Nanta.

GOOSE PIMPLE AND WHITE HAIRED JOB LOSSES

Nanta is a 1,500 strong member association, contributing about 5% to GDP in taxes, levies and sundry inventories. However, within weeks of the forex “Blood Bath” some 300 of this membership and workers were thrown into the huge unemployment market. Indeed, this is not the best time to become a travel agent even operate airline services in Nigeria. Bankole Bernard (BB) has become an “old man” with white hairs stranding all over his “young” head and with the goose pimple to the bargain as both foreign airlines and fellow travel agents wants him to mediate and get government to have a second progressive look at its recent policies.

PAY DOLLAR AND COLLECT NAIRA

One of the major draw backs in whole travel wahala is government expectation through Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and possible the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that foreign airlines and other service providers should pay the government of Nigeria for services rendered them in dollars while at the same breath, asking them to collect naira for any services offered to Nigerian travelling public. Nanta president, Bernard Bankole flags the development as very “Unethical and un-progressive” and wants government to clear this ambiguous directive.

TRAVEL NOT A LUXURY

The position of government that air travel is a luxury rankled Bankole to wonder if those President Buhari appointed to manage the aviation and  transport business in Nigeria truly understand their call. BB explained that travel instead is the locomotive engine global economy and not a luxury, nothing that it is only those who flags private jets that could be qualified as engaging in luxury trips. Again, the Nanta President States that such views tend to fuel the negative perception about travel trade business, hence the use of sledge hammer policies to kill the fragile sector.

A DIPLOMAT AND A PATRIOT

To prove that Nanta is “Working” for Nigeria and to also set example of how the ministers of Transport and Aviation could manage the forex issues as it effects foreign airlines, Nanta President, Bernard Bankole embarked on a feverish “diplomatic” visits to most foreign airlines to not only to pray for their understanding of the situation but largely to encourage them not to pull out of Nigeria. He was at the following airlines last week and intends to continue the patriotic and diplomatic shuttles until peace returns to the sector.  

AIR MAROC: ‘NIGerian TRAVEL AGENTS ARE WORLD CLASS’

Received by its General Manager in Nigeria, Mr. Jamal Harich, Nanta president sought closer relationship between the airline and Nanta members and further advised the airline management to bear with the government. Mr Harich appreciated the visit and expressed happiness at the proactive leadership of Nanta, noting that Nigeria TA’s are world class and very good veritable partners. Both leaders were optimistic that the issues would be resolved amicably soon.

RWAND AIR: NANTA LIVING UP TO EXPECTATION

Nigeria born country manager for Rwand Air, Ibeyemi Odusi was at hand to receive Nanta President and his team. Issues relating to the sector were trashed out and a very satisfied and hospitable Rwand Air manager was all smiles for all that Nanta under Bernard Bankola has done so far and promised the airline support.

OATAR AIRWAYS: IT IS TOUGH BUT NANTA CAN DO MORE.

He is new in Nigeria, less than few weeks in office. Mr Ramadas Sivaram is the country Manager for Oatar Airways in Nigeria. He was all ears as Bankole pleaded that the airline should keep hope alive on Nigeria at this hour of confusion. The Oatar Manager promised to study the environment and assured to link Nanta leadership with other global bodies in order to study their success story.

AIR FRANCEKLM: ‘SERVICE IS ABOUT PEOPLE’

Regional Director of Air FranceKLM to Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal, Mr Jean – Raoul Tauzin was all smiles as he welcomed Nanta President and his diplomatic team to his office. Issues of the hour dominated the discussion, yet the need for passengers overall satisfaction and well being was not pushed to the background. Indeed, it became the fulcrum of an expected new relationship between Nanta and the airline as soon as the policy cloud in the sky over Nigeria get cleared.