The Nigerian Government is in the process of concluding a Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) with Israel, which, it is hoping, will result in the start of direct flights before October this year. Should flights begin, they would cut flying time between Nigeria and Israel down to "six hours". |
| Jerusalem (sacredsites) |
On the occasion of the return of 378 Christian pilgrims to Benue and Abuja from their pilgrimage to Israel in preparation for Easter 2013, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Opara, said:
“The aim of our pilgrimage is to morally and spiritually transform Nigerians. If pilgrims come back morally and spiritually transformed, they will, in turn, transform their families and the people that come in contact with them. Through this, the entire country will become transformed in no distant time," he said. “Nigeria is committed to maintaining a cordial relationship with other countries. The Minister of Aviation is working hard to ensure that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and the state of Israel is concluded before the October pilgrimage exercise.”
Source [Punch]
The directive to pursue a BASA with Israel also came with Presidential backing. President Goodluck Jonathan, himself a Christian, is said to have personally instructed the aviation ministry to look into the matter.
