Tanzania has commenced direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, Nigeria, in a move aimed at bridging geographical distance, enhancing connectivity, and deepening cooperation and prosperity between the two nations.
The inaugural Air Tanzania flight landed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, where top officials from both countries described the development as historic for African aviation and bilateral relations.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, United Republic of Tanzania, Professor Godius Kahyarara, said the choice of Nigeria as the first West African destination was deliberate.
“The direct flight between the countries is a landmark development because of Nigeria’s position as the biggest economy in Africa,” Professor Kahyarara said.
“Nigeria’s great influence in the ECOWAS region gives it the right to be the first country to be considered for the first direct flight from Tanzania.”
He explained that Air Tanzania had previously focused on South, East, and North African routes, but with Lagos added, the flight time between Nigeria and Tanzania has been reduced from 10 hours to about 5½ hours.
Professor Kahyarara assured passengers that the Lagos route would be sustained with “rousing patronage as the market allows,” adding that the airline planned to expand to other West African destinations, including Accra (Ghana) and Abidjan (Ivory Coast), as well as other Nigerian cities.
“There are a lot of opportunities and benefits for Nigeria because of the large market nature of the country, and being the giant of Africa, Nigeria would experience a good turnaround that will contribute to its transformation agenda through the direct flight agreement with Air Tanzania,” he added.
Air Tanzania’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ulanga, stressed the opportunities the new route opens for both countries.
“The direct flight from Dar es Salaam to Lagos provides opportunities for Nigerian tourists to visit places of interest like Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and many others,” Ulanga said.
“The Dar es Salaam route offers a cheaper opportunity and alternative for Nigeria to target other parts of the continent and the rest of the world.”
Similarly, the airline’s Country Manager, Mohammed Ngamanya, described the development as “long overdue.”
“The choice of Nigeria will help to promote education, investment opportunities, tourism and commerce in line with the new African Continental Free Trade Agenda now being implemented,” he said.
The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jubrin Baba Ndace, welcomed the new route as a strategic addition to Africa’s aviation map.
“The direct flight agreement from Tanzania to Nigeria helps to bridge the distance between both countries in air travel, reduces the cost of air transportation and elevates both countries as major aviation hubs within their two geographical regions,” Ndace said.
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He emphasised Nigeria’s growing importance on the global stage.
“There’s no country in the world that can ignore Nigeria, particularly now that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ is repositioning Nigeria to make the environment conducive for thriving businesses,” he declared.
Ndace also pledged Voice of Nigeria’s commitment to projecting Africa’s image positively.
“As Voice of Nigeria, we remain very committed, intentional and unapologetic to position Nigeria to tell positive narratives about Nigeria and Nigerians, Africa and Africans. This is a win-win for us,” he said.
“The reason VON came to be part of this historic moment is the partnership that exists between it and Tanzania Broadcasting Service.”
With this inaugural flight, both nations said they look forward to stronger ties in trade, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange under the broader African integration agenda.
