Travel Agents call for Government support. Saying, hunger and depression are deadlier than the corona Virus.
Hunger and depression are more deadly than the coronavirus. This was stated last week in a brief meeting of some members of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA).
During the 4-member discussion, which lasted for about 30 minutes, It was said that life has been very tough and miserable for most of the travel agents in the country.
It will amaze you to realize that, travel agencies' offices have been closed down before the total lockdown was declared by the Federal Government in late March.
Agencies began to experience downturn sales in their various offices since early March, shortly after the country recorded the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in February, and have to shut down their offices following the Federal Government's announcement that, all airports in the country should be closed to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
This has led to the loss of jobs and businesses to many citizens especially the travel agents while their staff were also left without salaries.
NANTA top members had earlier made a passionate appeal to the authority at the NCAA industry restart webinar held on Tuesday, July 14, to please lift the suspension it placed on international flights since March.
If countries like Egypt, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK with the worst cases of coronavirus could open their borders for international flights, why can't our government do the same before starvation? The industry is worst hit by the Covid-19 virus and the majority of travel agents did not benefit from the CBN's COVID-19 relief fund while their offices' rents have been running for over 4 months without activities.
The association now calls on the Government of Nigeria both federal and state, to please come to the aid of the people in the aviation industry by organizing palliatives in the form of soft loans specially designed for the people in this sector, to enable them to pick up again from the losses incurred.
Finally, the federal government should please, consider the reopening of aerospace for international commercial flights for a new normal to commence.
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