The Executive Secretary of

the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr John-Kennedy Opara, says the commission will not compromise quality in the selection of aircraft for the transportation of pilgrims for the 2012 pilgrimage.

Opara said this during an interactive session with newsmen on the preparation of the commission for the 2012 exercise in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that the commission was aware of the fears nursed in some quarters over the safety of air transportation in the country, assuring that only the best aircrafts would be used for the 2012 exercise.

The executive secretary said that only aircrafts that measured up to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards would be approved for the transportation of pilgrims for the exercise.

“On the Dana Air crash, I want to say, most Christians have expressed fear, I know it’s just normal, but one thing I know is that it is not going to affect our operation in any way.

“I want to tell you that for the Christian pilgrimage operation, we have always treaded on the part of caution; we always make sure that the aircraft that we use is the best we can get in the market at the time of the operation

“So we are also going to go that extra mile to ensure that any aircraft that we are going to use will be the best that we can get in the market and of IATA standard; so we can assure our people that they need not to be afraid of anything.”

Opara allayed fears that recent developments in the aviation industry would affect the operation of pilgrimage in 2012.

He said that the present administration could not afford to jeopardise the lives of intending pilgrims, hence its insistence on the best carriers for the exercise.

Opara called on intending pilgrims not to exercise fear as the commission was poised to ensure that the approved air and ground carriers complied with the best safety standards.

On the issue of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the State of Israel, Opara said that a position would be reached before the commencement of the 2012 exercise.

He said that discussions between aviation and foreign affairs officials of both countries had reached advanced stage.

On insinuations that the government’s participation in Christian pilgrimage was a wasteful venture, Opara said that government had to intervene because of the large number of people involved.

He explained that it was inconceivable for such a large number of people to individually negotiate with foreign authorities on issues relating to their entry and exit from such countries.

Opara debunked claims that the Federal Government was involved in the direct sponsorship of Christian pilgrims to the holy land.

He said that the Federal Government only participated in providing medical and consular support services for pilgrims while in the holy land, hence its involvement in the exercise.

Opara said that the present management of the commission had in the past two years intensified the campaign for private sponsorship of pilgrimage in the country.