Yakubu Pam, executive secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, said a licence for a direct flight from Nigeria to Tel-Aviv, Israel, had been awarded to an indigenous Nigerian airline for transporting Nigerians and other nationals.

He said the operation would begin by March.

He disclosed this in Yenagoa, during the 17th biennial conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, at the Ecumenical Centre, Yenagoa.

He stated that since his assumption of duty in 2020, he was able to conceptualise the idea of having a direct flight from Nigeria to the State of Israel, and that dream would come to fruition by March.

He said having a direct flight to Israel would help to boost Nigeria’s bilateral relations with the State of Israel.

This was explained in a statement on Saturday in Abuja by Celestine Toruka, the spokesperson for NCPC.

Mr Pam further explained that the NCPC establishment Act of 2007 gave the commission the sole mandate to coordinate and supervise the movement of Christians from Nigeria to the biblical holy sites worldwide.

He noted that within one year in the saddle, he explored holy sites in the Kingdom of Jordan and afterwards had the maiden pilgrimage to Jordan in 2021, which was celebrated with pomp and pageantry by the Jordanians.

The NCPC helmsman added that the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, was the No six fastest-growing organisation globally.

He urged members to key into the commission’s pilgrimage programme and leverage its offerings and be part of the commission’s exercise to the holy land.

Mr Pam called on the Bayelsa people to have faith in the country and participate actively in the forthcoming general elections.

In the same vein, he called on leaders to forget their differences and seek the unity and progress of the nation.

(NAN)