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  • Wike clarifies insinuations about meeting with Israeli envoy

    Wike clarifies insinuations about meeting with Israeli envoy

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has clarified in strong terms insinuations about his October 3rd meeting with the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, that he expressed his support for Israel against Palestine.

    Wike who dismissed such insinuations as baseless and untrue said, “I can’t determine relationship between countries as FCT Minister.”

    The minister who recently met with the leadership of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board, re- echoed that he has no constitutional powers to determine Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with other countries, as such powers lies absolutely with the President and Commander-in-Chief.

    Wike said, “I have heard from various social media platforms that we had a meeting that we are doing this and that with Israel. I am here acting on delegation of powers on behalf of Mr. President.”

    “I cannot determine a relationship between a country and another country. So, it is difficult for anybody to say I am doing this, I am doing that.”

    “Any foreign body that wants to have anything to do with Nigeria, it is the Minister of Foreign Affairs who will write to me and state that these people want to see me; it is simple. ”

    And when they come, it is in my position to say look, we want to partner with you. Take for instance, you are going into agriculture and we want to partner, then we tell you where exactly, he explained.

    The minister further explained that his meeting with the Israeli Ambassador was purely for agricultural partnership in the interest of farmers in the FCT.

    According to the minister, “In Abuja, most of them have cultural farms and we say look, it is our own desire to help anybody who wants to invest in Abuja particularly in agriculture in order to employ our people and in order to get more revenue. It has nothing to do with another country. It doesn’t work that way.”

    “When our people begin to now think different angles and people may not understand that it is not correct. So I will like to use this opportunity to say look we have to talk to our people. In fact we must live harmoniously. We must live together to make sure that development is promoted, the minister stated.

    The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, had on Tuesday October 3 visited the FCT minister, days before the Hamas’ attack on Israel and the consequent and continued retaliation by the Jewish nation.

    Inspite of the gap between the visit and the eruption of conflict between the group and Israel, some elements had accused Wike of offering Nigeria’s support to Israel.

    Freeman had during the visit expressed his country’s willingness to work with Nigeria to generate employment opportunities for the unemployed population, transform Abuja into a technology hub, and engage in agricultural partnerships.

    In response, Wike conveyed Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with Israel in the field of Information Technology with a plan to establish a technology village in Abuja.

    He also highlighted the favourable climate in Abuja, suggesting a collaborative effort to create a large technology-driven farm that could employ many youths.

    Owing to this, Wike sought Israel’s assistance in enhancing Nigeria’s technological security measures to strengthen national security.

  • NCPC Airlifts Third Batch Of Pilgrims to Israel, Jordan Via PH Airport

    NCPC Airlifts Third Batch Of Pilgrims to Israel, Jordan Via PH Airport

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, has airlifted the 3rd batch of intending Pilgrims of Imo State to Israel and Jordan via the Port Harcourt International Airport on the 18th of May, 2023.

    The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam in a farewell, orientation message assured the intending Pilgrims that the Commission would continue to provide excellent service delivery to the Nigerian Pilgrims while in the Holy land.
    He explained that the Commission would ensure that the service providers deliver their own contractual agreement reached with the Commission.

    Rev.Pam said,” We have the right to suspend any of our service providers if found wanting”, as he assured that the welfare of the Nigerian Pilgrims would never be compromised.

    He explained that the Commission would continue to do everything possible to make sure that no pilgrim has any cause to complain as every logistics had been put in place to ensure a smooth and hitch free pilgrimage exercise.

    He described the intending Pilgrims as the Ambassadors of the Commission, stating that once a Pilgrim receives the Jerusalem Pilgrim title, he or she becomes the Ambassador of the Commission through the evangelization of pilgrimage.

    The NCPC lead urged all intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, Christ, Imo State respectively.

    Furthermore, he thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the enabling environment for Christian pilgrimage to thrive in the country .
    He also thanked Gov. Hope Uzodinma for sponsoring about 1000 Imo christians to the Holy land after a period of ten years without pilgrimage sponsorship by the state .

    Chairman of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev Fr Gilbert Alaribe, thanked Rev Pam for the unquantifiable cooperation he enjoyed from the Commission.

    Rev Fr Alaribe also thanked the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma for his uncommon concern for the welfare of christians in Imo State.

    He urged the intending Pilgrims to pray fervently for the state and themselves in Jordan and Israel.

    It would be recalled that the first batch of pilgrims from Imo State departed for the Holy land on 28th April, 2023 and the second batch departed on 8th May, 2023 from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu made up of pilgrims from Enugu state.
    This third batch is made up of about 300 intending Pilgrims from Imo State.

  • AirPeace launches first direct flight from Nigeria to Israel

    AirPeace launches first direct flight from Nigeria to Israel

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    AirPeace airline has launched it’s first direct flight from Nigeria to Israel on 20h April, 2023 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Chief Executive Officer, Airpeace Airline, Allen Onyema has disclosed this during the states Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers meeting held on 20th at the NCPC office in Abuja.

    Onyema explained that the direct flight will boost the pilgrimage activities with scheduled flights on Thursdays and Friday every week s every two times a week and passengers would spend only five hours onboard.

    He commended the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC , Rev. Yakubu Pam for being instrumental in making the dream of having a direct flight to Israel come true.
    He also revealed that the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria is working out modalities to ease the issuance of visas to Nigerians and intending pilgrims.

    Rev. Pam in intimated the State Christian Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers of the success of the just concluded main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.
    He explained that the meeting with the state pilgrimage leaders was to fashion out a way forward on the partnership between Airpeace Airline and the Commission in the airlift of intending Nigerian pilgrims.

    He said, “As stakeholders and key partners,we should come together to help pilot the affairs of pilgrimage.”

    According to him, going forward the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards and the NCPC are intertwined to have a good working relationship to improve the productivity of the pilgrimage exercises .”

    Rev.Pam who was excited over the launch of the direct flight from Nigeria to TEL – AVIV said the initiative would ease the movement of Christian intending Pilgrims from Nigeria to the Holy Land of Israel.

    He disclosed that the 2023 Easter pilgrimage would officially commence on 28th April,2023 and the flag off ceremony would take place in Imo State.

    He charged pilgrimage leaders and managers to remain focused as the Commission is working assiduously to reposition Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

  • Air Peace Commences Direct Flights from Nigeria to Israel

    Air Peace Commences Direct Flights from Nigeria to Israel

    Nigerian airline Air Peace has made history as the first ever Nigerian airline to fly direct, non-stop to Israel.
    The airline commenced scheduled operations into Tel Aviv, from Abuja and Lagos, on Thursday.
    At the well-attended inaugural flight ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, said history has been made in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel through the commencement of direct, non-stop flights from Lagos and Abuja to the city of Tel Aviv.
    He asserted: “This is undoubtedly a big milestone as for the first time, a Nigerian airline is connecting both countries directly through scheduled commercial flights.”

    Onyema said the airline was delighted particularly because the new route would provide huge respite to Nigerian travellers who henceforth do not have to travel to Israel through other countries, spending over 20 hours in stopovers whereas a direct flight would be less than six hours.
    “Our entry into Israel today will open up more layers of opportunities and possibilities socially and economically and advance the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and Israel.
    “The connectivity will boost ‘religious tourism’, especially factoring the numerous Nigerians who embark on pilgrimage trips to Israel,” the Air Peace Chairman stated.
    He stressed that the airline was familiar with the Israeli airspace as it operated evacuation flights to the country in 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Onyema expressed gratitude to the Israeli government, especially its Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Freeman, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and other stakeholders whose efforts made this launch possible.
    On his part, Freeman expressed joy over the new connectivity, stressing that it would help deepen bilateral ties between both countries and promote mutually beneficial economic engagements.

    Also speaking, Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, commended Onyema for his strides in aviation.
    He added that the growth of Air Peace had shown that a Nigerian could make sustainable global inroads in aviation as Air Peace was solidly representing Nigeria in the international aviation community.
    He emphasised the socio-economic impact of the new route, especially in ‘religious tourism’.
    Sirika, represented by Mr. Hassan Ejibunu, Director of Air Transport Management, Ministry of Aviation, reiterated the support of the government to indigenous airlines and promised government’s continued assistance to Air Peace in its route expansion drive.
    The airline now has five international destinations, including the recently launched Mumbai, 20 domestic (with Maiduguri launching on April 21, 2023) and seven regional routes.

  • NCPC boss arrives Uyo, ensures Airlift of intending pilgrims to Israel, Jordan

    NCPC boss arrives Uyo, ensures Airlift of intending pilgrims to Israel, Jordan

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam has arrived Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital today for the airlift of intending pilgrims of Cross River state and Ondo state to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan.

    The NCPC boss arrived Victor Attah International Airport at exactly 1:15 pm and was received by the Executive Secretary Akwa Ibom state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs Nsikak Orok.

    In a statement signed by Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations of the Commission, made available to Daybreak today, the Executive Secretary was accompanied by some operational staff of the Commission to ensure the airlift tonight of the third batch of intending pilgrims that would be airlifted to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan.

    This batch also include intending pilgrims from Ebonyi State who will be airlifted from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to join the rest of the intending pilgrims in Victor Attah International Airport, UYo, the statement said.

  • Gov. Ugwuanyi flags Off Enugu State 2022 Pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan, calls for prayers

    Gov. Ugwuanyi flags Off Enugu State 2022 Pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan, calls for prayers

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Enugu State Governor, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday in Enugu flagged off the 2022 Christian Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan.

    Addressing the intending pilgrims during the orientation programme organized by the Mobilization Department of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and the Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, the Governor thanked the leadership of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for chosing the state for the inaugural airlift of the December 2022 pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan.

    He pointed out that his administration has been consistent in the sponsorship of christian pilgrims to the Holy land.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi. said,” every year christians in our state are sponsored on pilgrimage irrespective of their denominations “. He added,” today, 300 pilgrims would be airlifted to Israel and Jordan .”

    Governor Ugwuanyi warned intending pilgrims on zero abscondment during pilgrimage exercise as he tasked them
    to exhibit high sense of decency and decorum while in the Holy land.

    This was contained in a press release signed by Celestine Toruka
    Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations, made available to Daybreak today.

    Meanwhile, he further charged them to ensure they pray for God’s intervention in the affairs of Nigeria and for smooth transition of a new Government in Nigeria in 2023.

    Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr. Yakubu Pam stated that Enugu had made history for being the first to be airlifted for this the December pilgrimage.

    The NCPC helmsman commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his dedication of faith for his people and also lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the commencement of the Pilgrimage and for his continued support for Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.

    In the same vein, the NCPC boss also applauded the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha for his support and guidance.

    Rev Pam hinted that this year’s December pilgrimage exercise is mainly the states affairs and admonished intending pilgrims not to think of absconding in the holy land .
    He said, ” I want all of you to come back safely the way you went.

  • Israel to commence regular direct flights to Nigeria – Israeli Tourism Minister

    Israel to commence regular direct flights to Nigeria – Israeli Tourism Minister

    By Joyce Rem- Babayeju

    The Israeli Tourism Minister, Yoel Razvozov has disclosed that regular direct flights between Nigeria and Israel will soon commence.

    Razvozov revealed this recently in Jerusalem at a meeting with the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam during his recent visit to Israel.

    The Tourism Minister explained that the initial plan was to operate only charter flights between both countries, but the major focus now is to operationalize regular direct flights between the two countries.

    The meeting which centred on mutually beneficial relationship between both countries which was hinged on how to operate regular flights by a Nigerian airline.

    The Minister affirmed that Nigeria’s current population of 206 million stands the country at advantage position as the most populous black nation on the African continent, adding that Christians constitute about 50 percent of the population of Nigeria, hence the country has a reasonable number of intending pilgrims.

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

    However, he was not sure whether the regular direct flights would operate from Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital or from Abuja the official capital of Nigeria.
    He assured the NCPC boss that this would be sorted out as events unfolds.

    Meanwhile the Israeli Tourism Minister has commended the bold efforts of the NCPC boss at repositioning the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Israel through Pilgrimage.

    He noted that the NCPC boss would be making history when the regular direct flight between Nigeria and Israel kicks off; being the current Executive Secretary of NCPC who played key role in its actualization.

  • NCPC okays 2021 Pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan

    NCPC okays 2021 Pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam has okayed the 2021 pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan as he disclosed that the Commission is ready for general pilgrimage exercise.
    Rev. Pam made this known on Friday in Amman Jordan when he and his delegation inspected the Hotels in Jordan.

    Together with his delegation he expressed satisfaction as the inspected the hotels in Jordan.
    He said, ” the wellbeing of my pilgrims is most paramount to me.” According to him, some of the hotels were declared dead on arrival as the facilities did not meet up with the standard and requirement of the delegation.

    The delegation on the State of Readiness visited Bethany, which is beyond the Jordan; where they saw the traditional baptismal site of our Lord Jesus Christ; another site
    visited was Mount Nebo across the promised land and where Moses was later buried.
    Prayers were said by the NCPC Board Chairman, Rev. Yomi Kasali on the Mount.
    The NCPC Boss in company of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority representative also conducted an inspection of the aircraft at the Queen Alia.
    According to the press release signed by Godiya Matthew, NCPC Information Officer at Amman , Jordan office the Commission and state pilgrimage managers are to start preparations in earnest for the forth coming pilgrimage to ensure a successful and hitch free exercise.

  • NCPC kick starts a hitch free 2021 pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan, Rome  

    NCPC kick starts a hitch free 2021 pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan, Rome  

    By Joyce Remi-  Babayeju
    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCOC,  has kick started  the 2021 main pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan and Rome in first quarter of the year 2022.
     The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam made the disclosure on 12th January, 2022 during an interview with a Media platform in Abuja.
    This was contained in a press release signed by NCPC   Head, Media & Public Relations, Celestine Toruka made available to Daybreak.
    Rev. Pam reiterated the  Commission’s commitment towards  a hitch free  2021 pilgrimage  exercise.
    He recalled that the 2020 maiden pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan was a huge success despite the fact that the exercise took place at the peak of the global pandemic, adding that the exercise also recorded  zero abscondment of pilgrims.
    The NCPC boss noted  that due to the huge success recorded in Jordan pilgrimage, countries like Israel and Turkey are now eager to work with the Commission which is a healthy development for the growth of the nation’s  Christian Pilgrimage.
    According to him, the pilgrimage route for the 2021 pilgrimage exercise would start from Israel to Jordan while the Rome package will start from Rome to Israel”.
    He revealed that the Commission would make every effort to raise as much as 10,000 intending pilgrims for the 2021 main pilgrimage.
    The NCPC Chief Executive also hinted that the Commission as part of its preparation for the 2021 pilgrimage, would embark on the State of Readiness visit to Israel with the State pilgrimage Leaders by the end of January, 2022. He explained that the visit would afford them the opportunity to inspect the Hotels as well as the Holy Sites in Israel.
    He further disclosed that the Commission would ensure that it meets with the requirements of international travels in line with the guidelines of the Federal Government and the Israeli authorities on COVID-19 protocols.
    To this end, he intimated that the Commission had embarked on the administration of the COVID-19 booster doses for staff who had taken the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine which would be extended to the intending pilgrims in the states.
    The statement also read that the Commission has  included  selected members of the Federal Medical team for the 2021 main pilgrimage were ready and they would be able to render effective medical care for our pilgrims during pilgrimage.
  • Israeli Air Strike Hits Syrian Port Of Latakia

    Israeli Air Strike Hits Syrian Port Of Latakia

    An Israeli airstrike hit Syria’s Latakia port on Tuesday, the second such attack on the key facility this month, according to Syrian state media.

    Since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out airstrikes on its strife-torn neighbour, mostly targeting Syrian government troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.

    “At around 03:21 AM, the Israeli enemy carried out an aerial aggression with several missiles from the direction of the Mediterranean… targeting the container yard in Latakia port,” Syrian state news agency SANA cited a military source as saying.

    The strike caused “significant material damage” and led to fires, it added.

    Asked about the strike, an Israeli army spokesman said: “We don’t comment on reports in foreign media”.

    On December 7, Israel carried out strikes on an Iranian arms shipment at Latakia, located in President Bashar al-Assad’s western Syrian heartland, without causing any casualties.

    That earlier attack, which was the first on the facility since the start of the war, triggered a series of explosions, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor with a wide network of sources in Syria.

    In November, three soldiers and two Syrian fighters affiliated with Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah were killed in Israeli strikes, according to the monitoring group.

    While the Jewish state rarely comments on individual strikes it carries out on its northern neighbour — with which it is officially at war — it has confirmed hundreds since 2011.

    According to a report by the Israeli army, it hit around 50 targets in Syria in 2020.

    In the deadliest operation since the strikes began, Israel killed 57 regime force members and allied fighters in eastern Syria overnight on January 13, 2021.

    The Israeli military has repeatedly defended the operations as a bid to prevent its archfoe Iran from gaining a foothold on its doorstep.

    Israel’s head of military intelligence, Major General Aharon Haliva, has accused Iran of “continuing to promote subversion and terror” in the Middle East.

    In a shadow war, Israel has targeted Iran’s military sites in Syria and also carried out a sabotage campaign in Iran against its nuclear programme.

    Tehran has been a key supporter of the Syrian government in the decade-old conflict.

    It finances, arms and commands a number of Syrian and foreign militia groups fighting alongside the regular armed forces, chief among them Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group.

    The conflict in Syria has killed nearly 500,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of peaceful demonstrations.

    AFP