Chinedu Eze
Two airlines have been earmarked to airlift Nigerian Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land in Israel, this year, despite the security concerns.
The two carriers are AtlasJet of Turkey and Airfirst of Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Okpara, who confirmed this said he had earlier signed the contracts with the two airlines for the airlift.
Atlast Jet had already started its operations while Airfirst would begin by October 26th, 2015.
Up to 25, 000 Christian Pilgrims would be airlifted in this year’s exercise, the highest number over the years.
Meanwhile, special Adviser to the former Minister of Aviation in charge of the Aerotroplis Programme, Dr. Daniel has said the new National Civil Aviation Policy 2013, which was ushered in during the last administration, paved the way for private sector participation in the aviation sector and facilitated the registration of Airfirst as a domestic carrier.
He said under the Aerotropolis programme, an airport developer has acquired significant lands in a few states to develop cargo facilities and enhance non-aeronautical revenues in the airports designated as cargo terminals in Nigeria and would collaborate with Airfirst to airlift perishable cargo to international markets.
“The minority stake in Airfirst will allow both firms to collaborate on the export market for perishable cargo and create employment and economic value chain for the economy,” Tarka said.
According to the two collaborating companies, this is a welcome development for the sector as Airfirst Nigeria was recently valued by Tower Assets Management Ltd, a leading stockbroker, to be worth about N15 billion, including goodwill assets.
