Why FG Should Upgrade Local Airlines – NCPC boss

The executive secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Uja Tor Uja, has appealed to the federal government to strengthen and upgrade local airlines to international best standards, so as to make them compete globally with other airlines.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the “conference of pilgrimage and managers of Nigeria’’, a conference organized by NCPC to redefine the mode of pilgrimage in the country, Uja stated this effort will make local airlines a global product to reckon with and give them enhance leverage to compete with other international airlines.
Uja said he is optimistic that if the federal government look into the aviation sector and strengthen it, and build up the capacity of the local airlines, it will help the operation of activities from Nigeria.
According to him, “We have massive number of people that travel on pilgrimages annually. Hence, if adequately empowered Nigeria airline operators will be able to compete and not left out in the business.

“We want to call on indigenous airline operator to lift up their game and operate flight for us to Jerusalem, because it will also help to strengthen Nigeria economy in areas of direct flight.”
He however decried that most foreign airlines operating in Nigeria have to go to their home country before proceeding to Nigeria pilgrims destination. Adding that if there’s direct flight there will not be problem of stopover which causes delay in flight movement.
“We have also dialogued with international community to ensure that obtaining visa for pilgrimage will be easy. We have relationship with Israel and other countries offering pilgrim services. Hence pilgrims that are travelling will get to know a month ahead of his trip,’’ Uja stated.
He also affirmed that pilgrimage will not be only interesting but attractive in some time to come if adequate preparations are made.
Uja also invite all Christians in Nigeria to participate in pilgrimage to Israel at least once in a lifetime.