By Ebriku John Friday
Israel and Nigeria would soon commence regular direct flights. The Israeli Tourism Minister, Yoel Razvozov disclosed this recently in Jerusalem during a meeting with the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Dr Yakubu Pam who met with the Tourism Minister twice during his recent visit to Israel.
Mr Celestine Toruka, Head, Media and Public Relations revealed in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
The Tourism Minister explained that the initial plan was to operate only charter flights between both countries, but the major focus now is to operationalize regular direct flights between the two countries.
Their meeting was primarily centred on mutually beneficial relationship between both countries which was hinged on how to operate regular flights by a Nigerian airline.
The Minister affirmed that Nigeria’s current population of 206 million stands the country at advantage position as the most populous black nation on the African continent.He added that christians constitute about 50 percent of the population of Nigeria, hence the country has a reasonable number of intending pilgrims she can boast of.
Mr Razvozor posited that the direct regular flights by a Nigerian airline to Israel would certainly galvanize intending pilgrims from Nigeria to fly often to the Holy Sites in Israel and even boost their financial strength.
However, he was not sure whether the regular direct flights would operate from Lagos, Nigeria,s commercial capital or from Abuja the official capital of Nigeria.He assured the NCPC boss that this would be sorted out as events unfolds.
The Israeli Tourism Minister commended the bold efforts of the NCPC boss at repositioning the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Israel through Pilgrimage.
He further commended him for finding time to visit Israel for the meeting.He added that the NCPC boss would be making history when the regular direct flight between Nigeria and Israel kicks off; being the current Executive Secretary of NCPC who played key role in its actualization.
