Lagos. Nigeria has officially granted the Foreign Carrier Operation Permit (FCOP) to Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), enabling the national airline to commence scheduled flights to and from the West African nation.
The permit was presented at a ceremony in Abuja attended by senior government officials and key aviation stakeholders from both countries.
The event underscored the growing partnership between Nigeria and Tanzania in strengthening regional air connectivity.
The Permanent Secretary in Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the move would enhance operational efficiency, safety, and collaboration between the two countries’ aviation sectors.
Represented by Ahmed Tijani Mohammed, he said the FCOP was designed to align operations with international best practices, standardise procedures, and facilitate Air Tanzania’s entry into the Nigerian market.
“This presentation is a significant step in promoting aviation cooperation and excellence. We are confident this initiative will deliver positive outcomes for both nations,” he said.
The development supports Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to foster regional integration and strengthen cross-border cooperation within West Africa and beyond.
By granting the FCOP, Nigeria aims to boost its aviation industry while improving passenger and cargo links with Tanzania.
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director of Air Traffic Regulation, Yinka Babaoye Iriobe, welcomed ATCL’s arrival and noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two countries at NCAA headquarters.
The MoU will require Air Tanzania to upload passenger data into the NCAA’s AVITECH portal, with the FCOP serving as the formal operational authorisation.
Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Gervas Kakele, commended the Nigerian government for supporting stronger bilateral aviation ties.
He described Nigeria as “the gateway to prosperity for all African nations” and said the agreement would help address long-standing gaps in intra-African connectivity.
Air Tanzania has completed NCAA’s regulatory requirements, including a base inspection in Tanzania, and has secured approval for its Local Security Operation Procedures (LSOP).
The airline has also requested office space at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and residence permits for its staff.
The new air link between Dar es Salaam and Lagos is expected to strengthen trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, while contributing to Africa’s broader regional integration agenda.
