Enugu was abuzz with excitement on Wednesday as the Enugu State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) hosted its first New Year Get-Together in grand style. The event, held at Silvia Hotel, Enugu, drew key players from the travel, aviation, and regulatory sectors, signaling a purposeful start to the 2026 travel business year.
Speaking to journalists ahead of her keynote remarks, the Vice President of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Mrs. Faith Essien, highlighted the need for professionalism, ethics, and continuous growth in Nigeria’s travel and tourism industry.
“The theme of this meeting is ‘Travel Business with NANTA’. We are professional travel agencies, and we have noticed that travellers have changed, not just in Nigeria but globally,” Mrs. Essien said.
She explained that the association is shifting its focus beyond ticketing to include consultancy services, capacity building, and improving public perception of licensed travel agents.
“We are looking at creating awareness, not only for our members but also for the general public, on how they see us. Ticketing is no longer just about booking; we are graduating towards providing consultancy services,” she added.
Mrs. Essien outlined five core focus areas for the association in 2026: training, personal development, professionalism, transparency—especially with online ticketing—and confidence in service delivery. She also emphasized the importance of collaboration with regulatory and security agencies, noting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was invited to provide guidance on compliance.
“The presence of EFCC will help our members understand financial regulations better and also provide soft landing where there are genuine misunderstandings in transactions,” she said.
The NANTA Eastern Zone VP further highlighted that the association actively works to curb the activities of quacks in the travel sector, noting that NANTA regulates industry practices, protects members’ interests, and ensures adherence to International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.
She commended the Enugu State NANTA Coordinator, Mrs. Chioma Obi, also Executive Director of Jands Travel Business School (JTBS), for her purposeful leadership, urging her to sustain efforts to reposition the association in the state. Mrs. Essien described Enugu as a strategic hub within the Eastern Zone, which spans 11 states across the South-East and South-South.
Earlier, Mrs. Obi explained that NANTA traditionally holds annual gatherings but decided to launch 2026 “in grand style” to enhance engagement and visibility.
“This year’s gathering is different because we deliberately involved key stakeholders—FAAN, NCAA, NCAC, NTDC, and the Vice President of NANTA, Eastern Zone,” she said.
She stressed that the event aimed to expose travel agents to industry developments and reinforce the message that “it is no longer business as usual.”
“There are a lot of changes in the industry, and NANTA is determined to ensure compliance and sanitise the sector. This event is a landmark way of launching ourselves into the new year, thanking God for the past year, and creating opportunities to network and connect,” Mrs. Obi added.
Reflecting on the growth of the Enugu chapter, she noted improved awareness and participation since assuming office two years ago.
“Before now, many did not understand what NANTA stood for. Today, when we call for meetings, attendance has significantly improved, driven by sustained awareness, media engagement, and visibility,” she said.
At the event, the Head of Investigations, EFCC Enugu Zonal Command, Mr. Ayo Fadahunsi, delivered a presentation titled “Staying Compliant: How Travel Agents Can Avoid Financial Crimes and EFCC Troubles”. He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to educating travel agents on compliance and fraud prevention.
“We investigate all matters relating to travel fraud, including visa fraud, and we take it seriously. Part of our duty is to educate practitioners on what they need to know to avoid falling foul of the law,” he said, stressing the importance of licensing and regulatory compliance.
Other notable speakers included Mr. Kemi Emmanuel, Terminal Manager, Akanu Ibiam International Airport; Mr. Charles Ogazi, Head of Human Resources, NCAA; Mr. Kingsley Ilediagu, Assistant Chief Transport Officer, NCAA; Mrs. Pamela Agu, Deputy Director, NCAC; and Mr. Patrick Okochi, Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDC).
The event culminated in a ceremonial cutting of the New Year cake and a toast to a successful 2026, setting an optimistic tone for NANTA’s travel business activities across the country.
