The Federal Government has officially granted the Foreign Carrier Operation Permit (FCOP) to Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, represented by Ahmed Mohammed, said the move is designed to boost operational efficiency, safety, and cooperation between Nigeria and Tanzania in the aviation sector. He explained that the FCOP will harmonise procedures, ensure smooth interactions, and align operations with international standards.
Kana described the presentation as a milestone in strengthening aviation partnerships and promoting excellence, noting that it supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to deepen regional integration in West Africa and beyond. He assured ATCL of Nigeria’s readiness to provide necessary support and urged the airline to engage with relevant agencies in the ministry.
The Director of Air Traffic Regulation at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Yinka Babaoye Iriobe, expressed anticipation for ATCL’s entry into the Nigerian market, highlighting the country’s vast potential to grow the aviation industry. She disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding between both nations will soon be signed at NCAA headquarters, requiring ATCL to upload passenger data into NCAA’s AVITECH portal.
Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Gervas Kakele, thanked the Nigerian government for its collaboration, describing Nigeria as Africa’s gateway to prosperity. He said the lack of regional connectivity has hindered movement within the continent, adding that the two countries are now working to establish a sustainable direct flight link.
Kakele confirmed that ATCL is ready to begin scheduled flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, having met key NCAA regulatory requirements. He noted that NCAA has issued the airline a Document of Authorization, Conditions, and Limitations following a rigorous base inspection in Tanzania. He also revealed that ATCL has secured approval for its Local Security Operation Procedures and appealed for office space at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport, along with residence permits for its staff.
