Committee Says Tax Reforms Will Succeed With Support of Travel Agents, Others

The chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms will achieve lasting success through sustained engagement with key industry stakeholders, like the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA).

Speaking in Lagos while receiving a NANTA delegation led by its president, Oyedele emphasised that continuous education, dialogue, and strategic interface with industry associations are critical to the success of tax reforms in Nigeria.

According to him, engagement with structured and influential trade groups such as NANTA will help bridge information gaps and deepen understanding within the tax ecosystem.

“Our committee has met with several multi-layered organisations, including airlines. To be honest, we were not fully aware of the depth and strategic role of your association as a critical solution driver in the tax reform process.

From what we have done here today—opening another frontier of understanding and bridging information gaps—I am optimistic that our tax reforms will be successful,” Oyedele stated.

He advised NANTA’s leadership to sensitise its over 3,500 members on the importance of properly documenting account turnover and banking records to avoid tax liabilities arising from discrepancies.

“To avoid unnecessary tax liabilities, records must be properly kept and tidied up,” he warned, adding that the committee would continue to engage NANTA to clarify grey areas within the downstream aviation tax ecosystem.

Oyedele further assured the association that, schedule permitting, he would honour its invitation to attend NANTA’s 50th Anniversary and Annual General Meeting slated for April in Ibadan, describing the meeting as another strategic window to engage a strong community within the tax reform ecosystem.

In his remarks, NANTA president Yinka Folami explained that association members are concerned about the burden of multiple taxation in the travel trade sector. He appealed for a clearer interpretation of levies and taxes embedded in airline tickets, noting that such charges are often attributed to travel professionals and, in some cases, are subject to double taxation.

Folami stressed that while NANTA supports government tax policies and broader national development efforts, its members require clarity on tax obligations. He called for sustained engagement between the Presidential Committee and relevant agencies, particularly the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS, former FIRS), to address challenges confronting travel agencies.

“We are in support of government tax policies and have consistently championed Nigeria-centric initiatives to drive reforms in the downstream aviation sector. Our presence here today underscores our commitment to building a knowledge-based and sustainable relationship with the government, especially on tax reforms and implementation,” Folami said.

The courtesy visit evolved into an extensive tax policy review session.

Folami also formally presented a letter inviting Oyedele to serve as Speaker at the association’s fifth anniversary in Ibadan, where he is expected to further enlighten members—particularly operators involved in religious tourism, such as Hajj and Umrah—on the benefits and practicality of the new tax laws.

Meanwhile, NANTA’s Electoral Committee has announced the results of the Lagos Zonal elections, with most immediate past executives returned unopposed.

Re-elected officers include Yinka Olapade as vice president; Chinwe Eluche as zonal secretary; Enai Biboere Glory as treasurer (first term); and Fatai Moshood Abiola as financial secretary (first term). Toyin Ojo emerged as Zonal Internal Auditor for a second term, while Yewande Philip Ogunbiyi was returned unopposed as Publicity Secretary for a second term.

The Lagos elections were conducted and supervised by Mrs Bimbo Durosimi Etti and Daisi Olotu, members of the Zone’s Board of Trustees, with Dr Dagunduro Olatokunbo representing the National Executive Council as observer.

Zonal elections are held across the association’s six zonal structures ahead of each Annual General Meeting. Results from other zones are expected to be announced by their respective electoral committees in due course.