Sports Journalists To Enjoy Discounted Airfares As SWAN Seals Byblos Deal

Sports Journalists To Enjoy Discounted Airfares As SWAN Seals Byblos Deal

By BSN Sports 

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has entered into a strategic partnership with Byblos Travels and Tours Nigeria Limited aimed at reducing travel costs and improving access to logistics services for sports journalists covering local and international events, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Abuja, provides SWAN members with discounted domestic and international airfares, visa advisory services, accommodation support and other travel-related benefits designed to enhance their mobility and professional capacity.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, SWAN President, Isaiah Benjamin, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the association's commitment to members' welfare.

According to him, the leadership thoroughly reviewed the terms of the partnership before endorsing it, expressing confidence that it would address one of the biggest challenges facing sports journalists in Nigeria.

"Anything that will benefit our members, we are always interested in it. Having gone through the contents of this agreement, I believe it will help our members in no small measure," Benjamin said.

He noted that the high cost of domestic air travel has forced many sports journalists to undertake long and sometimes risky road journeys to cover sporting events, while others have had to forgo assignments altogether.

"You can imagine our members travelling for thirteen or fourteen hours by road just to cover a match because they cannot afford the airfare. Some eventually choose not to go at all," he said.

Benjamin expressed optimism that the partnership would enable more journalists to cover major sporting events across Nigeria and abroad, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Leader of the Byblos delegation, Abubakar Nasrudeen, said the company was pleased to collaborate with SWAN in making travel more affordable and convenient for sports journalists.

He explained that Byblos Travels and Tours, which specialises in airline ticketing, visa processing and tour packages, would provide SWAN members with exclusive travel offers not readily available to the general public.

"We are ready to give SWAN all the support in terms of airfare, visas and travel packages. We want members to enjoy special fares and opportunities that they cannot easily get elsewhere," Nasrudeen said.

He added that the company would continue exploring additional travel solutions that could benefit members of the association.

The partnership was facilitated by veteran sports journalist and former Secretary of the SWAN Kano State Chapter, Abdulgafar Oladimeji, who commended the association's leadership for prioritising members' welfare and professional development.

Oladimeji said the current SWAN leadership had restored unity and stability within the association, creating an environment that encourages strategic partnerships capable of improving the fortunes of sports journalists nationwide.

"Today, SWAN is one voice. The association is stable, and many people may not know that peace and stability are worth billions of naira to any organisation," he said.

He added that opportunities for travel and international exposure remain among the key attractions of sports journalism, making the partnership particularly significant.

The agreement comes as preparations intensify for several major international sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

SWAN believes the partnership will improve the mobility of sports journalists, increase their participation in major sporting events and ultimately enhance the quality of sports reporting in Nigeria.