Nigerian President’s Vow at Kotel

By COLlive reporter

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is leading a pilgrimage of 3,000 countrymen to Israel, visiting holy sites in Jerusalem and Nazareth.

His entourage includes eight governors, seven ministers, three members of the National Assembly and several church leaders.

Also traveling with the first sitting Nigerian president to visit Israel is Nigerian Chief Rabbi Israel Uzan, Director of Chabad Lubavitch of Lagos Nigeria in Victoria Island, Nigeria.

Increasingly large numbers of Nigerians visit Israel annually, President Jonathan said in a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres. Last year the number came to 30,000, and a significant rise is expected this year.

Israel and newly independent Nigeria established diplomatic relations in 1960, which were severed by Nigeria in 1973 following the Yom Kippur War and renewed in September 1992, the Jerusalem Post reported.

During the initial relationship with Nigeria, Israel sent experts to help modernize agriculture, health services, and education and also accepted hundreds of Nigerian students for studies in various fields in Israel.

After the renewal of relations, Nigeria became an important, multimillion-dollar export market for Israeli military and surveillance equipment, for which Israel also provided the training, according to The Post.

President Jonathan visited the Kotel as well, accompanied by Rabbi Uzan and greeted by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites in Israel.

After praying together, Jonathan vowed to help the Chabad Shliach with opening a Jewish center to serve the local Jews and many Israeli visitors to Nigeria. He noted his friendship to the Jewish nation and Israel. “I am very emotional from this visit,” he said.