The federal government has officially presented the Foreign Carrier Operation Permit (FCOP) to Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL).

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Abuja, Ibrahim Kana, permanent secretary at the ministry of aviation and aerospace development — represented by Ahmed Mohammed — said the permit will standardise procedures, enhance safety, improve operational efficiency, and foster collaboration between Nigeria and Tanzania’s aviation sectors.

“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,” Kana stated, noting that the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to promote regional integration.

He assured ATCL officials of Nigeria’s readiness to support their operations and urged them to liaise with relevant agencies in the ministry.

Yinka Iriobe, director of air traffic regulation at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), welcomed ATCL’s entry into the Nigerian market and disclosed that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.

She added that the MoU will require ATCL to upload passenger data into the NCAA’s AVITECH portal, with the FCOP serving as the authorisation to commence flights in and out of Nigeria.