The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Tor Uja, has solicited the assistance of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Geoffrey Onyeama on the activation of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) signed in 2013 between Nigeria and the State of Israel.
A statement issued by the head of the media section of the NCPC, Celestine Oguguo, made available to our correspondent on Tuesday noted that Rev.Uja made this plea while paying a courtesy visit to the minister on Monday, where he lamented that because of the non -activation of BASA, pilgrims have to fly for long hours due to absence of a direct flight from Nigeria to Israel, saying “we will like that you assist us to put this agreement through”.
He appreciated the Hon. Minister and the entire ministry for their support to Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria and explained that NCPC has been in partnership with the ministry for a long time without conflict.
Rev.Uja also commended the good work of the embassies that are critical to the pilgrimage process and equally thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting Christian pilgrimage despite the present economic meltdown, the statement said.
He solicited the assistance of the Hon. Minister in the area of capacity building for staff of NCPC and pilgrimage operators, saying” we will like a situation where we can receive some degree of training”.
Rev.Uja told his host that he would want pilgrims who go on pilgrimage to achieve three major objectives: spirituality, to build a more nationalistic spirit by exposing them on the way and manner the Israelis project their country and defend their critical infrastructure and to expose them to more productive elements of life.
Responding, Dr. Geoffery Onyema said he considered it a rare pleasure to partner with NCPC and assured that training of NCPC staff and pilgrimage operators should be explored.
He explained that the spiritual dimension of pilgrimage is very important but should not be an end in itself. He equally posited that pilgrims should be able to add value on their return from Holy pilgrimage.
On the activation of BASA, he canvassed for further dialogue and negotiation between his Ministry and the Ministry of Transportation which also include Aviation in order to make it possible.
