NIGERIA SIGNS BILATERAL AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH STATE OF ISRAEL

PRESS STATEMENT                                                                                                                      

22nd Oct.2013

Nigeria and the State of Israel will tomorrow (23rd October, 2013) sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to enable airlines from both countries fly directly to each other’s territory without stop-overs in other destinations.

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah will sign on behalf of Nigeria while her Israeli counterpart will sign for his country. Oduah left Abuja this morning to the State of Israel for the event.

According to the Minister of Aviation, the agreement signing is the culmination of twelve months of negotiations between officials of the Department of Transportation of the State of Israel and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Aviation.

The agreement will pave way for direct flights into the two countries by designated airlines from both countries based on the Principles of Reciprocity. Before now, Nigerians travelling to Israel, including Christian Pilgrims have had to endure the long winding stop-overs in neighbouring countries before being airlifted to the Holy Land.

The Agreement also adequately addresses the question of imbalance in the BASA between Nigeria and other contracting countries. Under the terms of this Agreement, Nigeria and the State of Israel will enjoy equal rights and privileges in the implementation of the BASA.

The State of Israel will join three other countries in the Middle East that have air services agreement with Nigeria.

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister.