Nigeria grants Air Tanzania permit for direct flights

The Federal Government has issued a Foreign Carrier Operation Permit (FCOP) to Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), authorising the airline to begin direct flights between Tanzania and Nigeria.

The permit was formally presented at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, represented by Ahmed Mohammed, said the move would boost operational efficiency, safety, and bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector.

“The presentation of the FCOP to Air Tanzania is a significant step in promoting aviation cooperation and excellence. We are confident this initiative will yield positive outcomes for both nations,” Kana said. He added that the step aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to deepen regional integration and partnerships across West Africa.

Director of Air Traffic Regulation at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Yinka Babaoye Iriobe, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both countries will soon be signed to require ATCL to upload passenger data into the NCAA’s AVITECH portal.

Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Gervas Kakele, described Nigeria as “a gateway to prosperity for all African nations,” noting that the new service would address the lack of direct flight connections between African states.

Kakele confirmed that ATCL is ready to operate scheduled flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, following NCAA regulatory inspections in Tanzania, and has requested office space at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as well as residence permits for its staff.