Buhari orders NSA, Transport Ministry to effect direct flights to Israel

President Muhammadu Bu­hari has directed the Min­ister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to complete the implementation of Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Israel to enable di­rect flights for Nigerian pilgrims going for pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara, disclosed this to The AUTHORITY on Sun­day when asked about the fate of the BASA agreement with Is­rael, which was initiated by the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

Opara lamented the extra stress Nigerian christian pil­grims have to undergo by travel­ling through other countries be­fore flying into Israel to perform the spiritual tour to the holy sites there.

He expressed the hope that with President Buhari’s interven­tion, the BASA issues could be sorted out ahead of this year’s pilgrimage exercise.

His words: ”I must tell you that it is something that is quite worrisome but the president, in his wisdom, has directed the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that the BASA process is completed.

“I understand that the docu­ments are now with the Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) and the Office of the National Secu­rity Adviser (NSA) to try and work out the security issues.

“I am trusting God that it will clear before the main pilgrim­age starts. I know the president is desirous of making sure that Nigerians enjoy this BASA and undertake their trip to Israel without the hardship of going through different countries while we have a BASA with Israel.”

Nigerians, whether in pilgrim­age or business, currently have to fly through countries like Turkey and Malta before enter­ing or leaving Israel because of the non-implementation of the BASA which would allowed Ni­gerian or Israeli registered air­craft to fly directly to and from Israel.

Opara also disclosed that the NCPC was in advanced stages of launching a lottery scheme to afford over 200,000 Nigerian Christians the opportunity of performing the pilgrimage to Is­rael free of charge.