The Government Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Fee, Rev. Yakubu Pam, has mentioned the continued battle between Israel and Hamas has necessitated the change from visits to Biblical websites in Israel and Jordan to websites in Greece and Rome.
Pam made this identified whereas chatting with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, stressing that the security and well-being of the pilgrims stays the first concern of the NCPC.
He famous that the committee had suspended the December 2023 pilgrimage to Israel over the identical considerations, including that after a protracted look ahead to the battle between Israel and Hamas, which started on October 7, to finish, he personally had a analysis group led to evaluate and examine lodging amenities and current Biblical websites in Greece and Rome.
“I’ve led NCPC groups to examine holy websites in Greece and Rome. We’ve got spoken extensively with the federal government and native authorities and safety. Lodging and good hospitality are assured as the primary ever batch of Nigerian Christian pilgrims go to these locations to bodily work together with New Testomony websites of the Gospel and have interaction in religious practices together with meditation and prayers for our expensive nation.
“Preparations have additionally been made for a clean flight, good meals and native transport for the principle pilgrimage of 2023/2024; “state governments, state places of work of Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, church buildings and people have been formally knowledgeable of the modalities and price of N3m which solely requires a rise within the fee beforehand made for the Israel/Jordan journey,” he mentioned.
Pam defined that the brand new pilgrimage websites will embody locations the place Apostle Paul, also referred to as St. Paul, passionately unfold the teachings of Jesus Christ, changing polytheists and idolaters via in depth bodily journeys and memorable contributions that can rework essential components of stay within the New Testomony. date.
The NCPC additionally acknowledged that the brand new N3m pilgrimage payment, which incorporates the return air ticket, lodge lodging, three-course meal per day and excursions of holy locations in luxurious luxurious buses for six nights and 7 days, didn’t embody the journey allowances of pilgrims, whereas states and personal pilgrims had been anticipated that they’d obtain their funds earlier than the final day of January 2024.
In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday accredited the appointment of 9 members to serve on the board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Fee.
Tinubu's Particular Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in an announcement titled 'President Tinubu appoints new board of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Fee.'
The brand new appointees embody Colonel Aloche Adole as Chairman, Dr. Stephen Adegbite as Secretary, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola as Member, South West, Clement Nweke as Member, South East and Prince Wosu as Member, South South.
Others are Prof. Joseph Mamman as Member, North West, Dr. Toma Ragnjiya, Member, North-East, Dr. Simon Dolly, Member, North Central and Raphael Nwankwo representing the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria.
Based on Ngelale, the President charged the brand new appointees to “view their appointment as a possibility to serve the nation and as such absolutely commit themselves to this necessary objective.”
