Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said that plans were on to commence direct flights from Israel to Nigeria on a regular basis.

This information is contained in a statement by Celestine Toruka, Head, Media and Public Relations, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC).

Mr Razvozov disclosed this recently in Jerusalem during a meeting with the NCPC Executive Secretary, Yakubu Pam.

The Tourism Minister, who had visited Mr Pam twice recently in Israel, explained that the initial plan was to operate only charter flights between both countries.

He, however, said that the major focus now was to operationalise regular direct flights between both countries.

He noted that the plan would have mutual benefit for both countries on how to operate regular flights by a Nigerian airline.

Mr Razvozor said that the direct regular flights by a Nigerian airline to Israel would certainly galvanise intending pilgrims from Nigeria to fly often to the Holy sites in Israel and even boost their financial strength.

Citing the current population of no fewer than 200 million, the minister said that Nigeria boasts of a reasonable number of intending pilgrims.

The minister assured that as the plans unfolded, it would be decided whether the flight would operate from Lagos to Israel or Abuja to Israel.

He lauded the bold efforts of the NCPC boss at repositioning the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Israel through pilgrimage.

(NAN)