Israel To Commence Direct Regular Flights With Nigeria
BY BECKY OLAJIDE, ABUJA – The State of Israel has announced that it would soon commence regular direct flights with Nigeria to further galvanize intending pilgrims from Nigeria to fly often to the Holy sites as well as boost their financial strength.
The Israeli Minister of Tourism, Yoel Razvozov, who announced this recently in Jerusalem at a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, explained that that the initial plan was to operate only charter flights between both countries.
Razvozov said that the major focus now is to operationalize regular direct flights between the two countries, adding that the direct regular flights by a Nigerian airline to Israel would certainly add value to both countries.
The 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 noted 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.
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, adding that this would be sorted out as events unfolds.
The Israeli Tourism Minister who met with the NCPC Executive Secretary twice during his recent visit to Israel, commended the bold efforts of Rev Pam at repositioning the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Israel through Pilgrimage.
Razvozor also commended Rev Pam for finding time to visit Israel for the meeting, adding that the NCPC boss would be making history when the regular direct flight between Nigeria and Israel kicks off against the backdrop of the key role he played in the actualization of the flights.
