Ime Akpan
The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has said that it expected over 10, 000 Nigerians to perform the 2022 holy pilgrimage to Israel.
Executive of the commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam who stated while briefing journalists in Lagos said there were already 3, 000 intending pilgrims from Lagos, Ebonyi and Imo states.
Pam also said in spite of the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the pilgrims visited Jordan which is blessed with over 70 holy sites.
“We are preparing to travel with about 10,000 pilgrims; we already have 3,000 on ground that Lagos State government has given us. Ebonyi has given us 300 and Imo State has also given us 500. We are going round to revive the spirit of pilgrimage in other states. One of the ways of reviving it is by appreciating the people who have done well,” he said.
Despite that Israel is under lockdown, the executive secretary said the country was open for pilgrimage adding that Nigeria and the Middle East nation would work together for the success of the exercise.
“We are happy to announce to Nigerians and the Church that even as Israel is under lock down, it will open by January 2, 2022, for pilgrimage and we will be working with them to see that the pilgrimage succeeds. We have discussed with the minister of tourism, ambassador of Israel to Nigeria and the government of Israel on the way forward,” he said.
Furthermore, Pam announced that both countries had agreed on having direct flights to and fro both countries so that whoever wants to go to Israel directly will do so through the commission.
“We are working towards taking a direct flight from Nigeria to Israel and back. Another issue that was resolved was that of Israel asking to have their security men inside direct flights to Nigeria, which we declined because we felt our dignity and sovereignty will be reduced. So we agreed for their security to visit our airport for checks and be sure there is no harm for anything and anyone,” he added.
Besides, Pam said the commission had tackled headlong the issues of pilgrims absconding in Israel and announced gleefully that Nigeria recorded the huge success in that regard during the last exercise.
“We have also been able to address the issue of pilgrims absconding in Israel. Usually, when you go to Israel, black men are not always respected, because they abscond.”
“We reviewed our style and put some strategies down which gave us the first success in Jordan because no one absconded. People who fell ill were treated and we did not record any death. We flew with one of the pilgrims with oxygen and brought him back to Nigeria for treatment. We are doing this because we believe the pilgrimage won’t be so without caring for the health and security of the people,” he said.
