The Chief Executive Officer of RE360 Agent Development Limited, Elisha Olorunda, says Nigeria’s travel industry is grappling with a critical structural gap that continues to expose citizens to fraud, visa denials and financial losses.

Speaking on the state of international travel advisory services in the country, Olorunda said the absence of a structured and professional travel consulting ecosystem has weakened Nigeria’s global competitiveness and damaged its international credibility.

He said, “Structured travel consulting is not merely an industry upgrade; it is a strategic necessity. With professionalism, ethical standards and capacity development, Nigerian travellers can access global opportunities safely and successfully.”

He noted that Nigeria’s travel sector remains largely informal, with little or no regulatory oversight. As a result, virtually anyone can operate as a travel agent without adequate training, ethical grounding or professional certification.

This, he said, has led to widespread misinformation, compromised documentation and lost opportunities for Nigerians seeking education, medical care, business expansion or tourism abroad.

According to Olorunda, the consequences go beyond individual losses. “Poor advisory services do not only harm individuals; they affect Nigeria’s global reputation.”

He further explained that professional travel consulting extends far beyond ticketing and visa assistance, noting that it encompasses regulatory compliance, proper documentation advisory, ethical guidance and client education.

“When Nigerians are properly guided, they succeed abroad and reflect positively on the nation. That is how travel consulting becomes a national development tool.”

RE360 Agent Development Limited, Olorunda’s platform, focuses on training and certifying travel agents, with an emphasis on ethics, international best practices and consumer protection. The initiative aims to reduce fraud, improve visa success rates and reposition travel consultants as educators and facilitators of global opportunities rather than mere intermediaries.

“Agent development ensures accountability and restores trust in the sector,” he added.

Olorunda also highlighted the need for strategic partnerships between government agencies and professional travel consulting bodies. Such collaboration, he said, could enhance youth employment, promote mobility education and contribute to more informed policy formulation.

With nearly a decade of experience advising more than 1,000 Nigerians on international travel and operating a NANTA-certified practice, Olorunda said RE360 is positioned to serve as a catalyst for professionalising the sector, expanding global access and enhancing Nigeria’s international mobility footprint.

“Strategic engagement between government and credible consultants can curb fraud, improve outcomes and strengthen Nigeria’s standing internationally,” he explained.

He further urged Nigerians to become more informed consumers by seeking licensed and trained consultants, demanding transparency and understanding that integrity, not shortcuts, is the foundation of sustainable international travel success.

“The future of Nigerian travel must be built on structure, credibility and vision,” Olorunda concluded.