From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Nigerian government has appealed to Israeli government to activate a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), insisting that the content of the document would be beneficial to the economy of both countries.
BASA is an agreement that would give airplanes from Nigeria an unlimited access to Israeli airspace, allowing them the freedom to fly directly to Israel for pilgrimage exercise or for other purposes.
Current agreement with Israeli government does not permit airplanes from Nigeria to fly directly to Israel for whatever purpose. Rather, they are compelled to make a a stop over at Turkey for further security checks.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in 2014, visited Israel and reaffirmed the willingness and commitment of Nigerian government to strengthen BASA agreement with Israeli government.
But Daily Sun learnt that Israeli government was skeptical in endorsing the agreement due to lack trust, reputation and security related issues.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Tor Uja, who re-presented the request to the Nigerian Ambassador to Israel, Enoch Duchi, in Tel Aviv, solicited his support for the realisation of the agreement.
He admitted that there were some challenges and conditions needed to get BASA activated and appealed to the Ambassador for his support in that regard.
The agreement, he added, would guarantee a place for local content in the airlift of pilgrims hence his desire to encourage the participation of indigenous airlines in the Commission’s airlift operations.
Meanwhile, a statement signed by NCPC spokesman, Celestine Ogugua, indicated that aside the economic benefit of the agreement, the NCPC boss exposed the Israeli authorities to other benefits which both countries could enjoy by virtue of the agreement.
He also informed the Ambassador of ill treatment Nigerians are exposed to, some of which are difficulties in visa procurement, deportation of pilgrims with valid visas, among several others, and solicited the intervention of the Ambassador on the matter.
The ambassador in his response promised quick intervention to resolved all the issues raised against the Israeli authorities.
He advised NCPC to ensure that pilgrims are subjected to thorough screening as it would ensure significant reduction in the number of absconders.