Nigeria and Israel are to sign their first ever air services agreement imminently.
The deal will "pave the way for direct flights between both territories, on the principle of reciprocity, by the designated airlines of both countries", says the Nigerian federal ministry of aviation.
"Before now, Nigerians traveling to Israel, including Christian pilgrims, have had to endure long-winding stopovers in neighboring countries before being finally airlifted to the Holy Land," it adds.
Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan is expected to sign the accord during a visit to Israel.
Previous attempts to strike bilateral deals, in 2005 and 2012, were unsuccessful, and the ministry says that Nigerians have been "outraged" by previous proposals "heavily skewed against the interest of Nigerian airlines, a scenario which the present aviation minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, vowed to redress".
Source: Cirium Dashboard
