The Nigerian government has presented the Foreign Carrier Operation Permit (FCOP) to Air Tanzania Company Limited.
Speaking at the event, held at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development headquarters in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the initiative aims to enhance operational efficiency, safety and collaboration between Nigeria and United Republic of Tanzania in aviation sector.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by Mr Ahmed Tijani Mohammed, said the FCOP will standardise procedures, ensuring seamless interactions and efficient operations between Nigeria and Tanzania aviation stakeholders and aligning with international best practices.
He said: “The presentation of FCOP to Air Tanzania Company Limited is a significant step in our efforts to promote aviation cooperation and excellence, we are confident that this initiative will yield positive outcomes for both nations”.
He stated that the initiative aligns with th Tinubu Administration’s efforts to promote regional integration and cooperation in West Africa and beyond.
Kana assured the Air Tanzania officials of Nigeria’s readiness to provide all they need to operate and instructed them to liaise with all the agencies in the ministry to meet their needs.
The Director, Air Traffic Regulation Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mrs. Yinka Babaoye Iriobe, stated that Nigeria is looking forward seeing Air Tanzania commence operation in Nigeria and assuring them that Nigeria has a lot of potentials to make the aviation industry thrive.
She said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries would be assigned at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.
Yinka stated that the MoU will mandate the ATCL to upload all flown passengers’ information into NCAA AVITECH portal and the FCOP is the authorization needed by ATCL to commence operation into and out of Nigeria.
Earlier, the United Republic of Tanzania High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Gervas Kakele, thanked the Nigerian government for the cooperation and readiness to collaborate with Tanzania, stating that Nigeria is the gateway to prosperity to all African nations.
“The movement of people, goods and services in Africa have suffered huge setback due to lack of regional connectivity and this s why the two countries are coming together to establish a durable flight link,” he said.
He emphasised that ATCL is poised to commence scheduled direct flights between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Lagos, following the successful completion of key regulatory requirements by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), adding, “NCAA has issued a Document of Authorization, Condition and Limitation (DACL) to Air Tanzania after conducting a rigorous base inspection in Tanzania’’.
He added that the airline has secured approval for its Local Security Operation Procedures (LSOP) and appealed for office space at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and residence permit for the airline staff.
The event had in attendance the directors in the ministry, representatives of the agencies and Edward Nkwabi, Grand Handling Manager, Air Tanzania and Modester Mwanjala, Project Coordinator, Air Tanzania.
