The Israeli Tourism Minister, Yoel Razvozov has disclosed that Israel would soon commence direct flights to Nigeria.
The development was contained in a statement made available by Head, Media and Public Relations, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Celestine Toruka in Abuja.
Razvozor who recently disclosed this in Jerusalem during a meeting with the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam explained that the initial plan was to operate only charter flights between both countries.
He however said, the major focus now was to operationalise regular direct flights between the two countries.
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 unfold.
The 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.
