BY REBECCA ALUKO, ABUJA – The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam, has said that as part of the efforts aimed at reducing the cost of Pilgrimage, the Commission would promote direct flight to Israel.
Rev. Pam, who gave the assurance while playing host to the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Michael Freeman and the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Airline, Chief Allen Onyema in his office in Abuja at the weekend, said that direct flight to Israel will reduce the cost of flight for pilgrims drastically.
In the words of Pam; “Having a direct flight to Israel by a Nigerian airline will curtail the issue of high expenditure and reduce abscondment.
“Our joy is that our own person, a Nigerian will be the first to have this opportunity to airlift pilgrims directly to Israel”.
The NCPC boss also hinted that by the end of November, 2022, the inaugural direct flight from Nigeria to Israel would be launched.
Pam therefore thanked the Israeli Ambassador for considering it imperative to pay a courtesy visit to NCPC barely nine months in office.
He further said; “We are very humble to receive you here in your capacity as one who represents the entire country of Israel in Nigeria”.
Pam said that the NCPC was set up primarily to coordinate and supervise the movement of Christians to Israel and other Holy Sites around the world.
The NCPC Executive Secretary commended the Israeli Ambassador for his zeal and doggedness in charting a way forward for Christian Pilgrimage and also lauded the Envoy for his network of relationship both in Nigeria and Israel.
In the same vein, Rev. Pam commended the Chief Executive officer of Air Peace Airline for his sacrificial leadership and good humanitarian heart.
Earlier, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Michael Freeman thanked the NCPC boss for deploying all his energies in advancing the cause of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.
Freeman said that he was excited to work with the NCPC, saying; “we have a true partnership to grow together”.
The Envoy thanked the NCPC boss for his excellent leadership style and passion for Pilgrimage.
Speaking in turn, the Chief Executive officer of Air Peace airline, Chief Allen Onyema assured that sooner than later history would be made in Nigeria.
Onyema said that Air Peace is very much desirous of conducting direct flight operation to Israel, adding that Air Peace is thick because of Israel just as he assured that the airline has the capacity to successfully airlift Nigerian pilgrims through direct flight to Israel.
