By Gbegbe Sunday/Goodluck Ikiebe.
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam, says the Commisssion is set to mobilize about ten thousand pilgrims to perform this year’s pilgrimage to the Holy land for the 2021 exercise.
Rev Pam disclosed this at the second day of the four days retreat of the commission which started Thursday, 4th and to end Monday 8th November, 2021 at the Living Faith Church, Auta Balefi, Nasarawa state.
According to the Executive Secretary, the Commission has received an invitation from the Israeli government regarding the 2021 major pilgrimage expected to take place at the end of the year.
He revealed that the Commission will make its position known to the Nigerian public after it had discussed the Covid19 protocol with the State of Israel.
“We have received an invitation to come over to Israel to discuss on this year’s Christian pilgrimage.
“I will not make any official statement now until we finish every discussion with them on the covid19 protocol”, he explained.
According to Rev Pam, the Jordan pilgrimage was a success and assured Nigeria pilgrims that will be visiting both Jordan and Israel after discussions are held with the Israeli government”, Pam stressed.
He noted that the 2021 staff retreat was aimed to prepare them for the task ahead considering that the commission was set to mobilize ten thousand pilgrims for this year, describing it as “a major exercise”.
Rev Pam said “the retreat is to fortify the gains of the Jordan trip which ended in September, 2021” but however said, “the commission will continue to strive to ensure that no abscondment of pilgrims, a feat we achieved in Jordan September, 2021”.
Recall that the commission in July, 2021 performed the 2020 pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan following the refusal by the Israeli government on COVID-19 protocol.
The Commission is, however, set to continue with the Israel pilgrimage, which is a major event undertaken by Christians in Nigeria to holy sites in Israel on terms that will be agreed upon by both the commission and the Israeli Tourism Ministry when they meet soon.
