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By Anthony Maliki, Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has assured that Nigerian pilgrims will be safe in Israel.
He made this disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
“By the grace of God, Nigerian pilgrims will be safe in Israel,” Bishop Adegbite said. “We will travel for the Easter Pilgrimage and we will be safe. It will be a journey for reawakening and rejuvenation, not a jamboree,” Adegbite said.
He added that the pilgrims will experience the glory of God by the end of the pilgrimage exercise.
The NCPC boss announced that the Easter pilgrimage exercise will commence in June, and preparations are in top gear for a hitch-free exercise.
He revealed that the Commission has approved a calendar of activities for its annual pilgrimage program, stating that pilgrimage is now more structured and no longer done haphazardly every month. According to him, the Easter pilgrimage runs from April to July, while the main pilgrimage exercise begins from November and ends in February.
Bishop Adegbite condemned the ongoing carnage in Gaza, calling for an end to the war. Although the Commission’s pilgrimage coverage does not include Gaza, he emphasized the urgent need for peace in the region for humanity’s sake.
The cost for the Easter pilgrimage exercise will be released next week after considering some variables, he hinted.
Recall that the Executive Secretary recently visited Israel and Jordan on a working visit to the two pilgrimage destination nations. During the visit, he met with the Nigerian Ambassador to Israel, Mrs. Agatha Afoekelu, at the Nigerian House in Tel Aviv, and prayed for a prosperous Nigeria at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
He also assessed the state of things for prospective pilgrims in the Galilee region.
In a related development, the Israel Ministry of Tourism released a statement on May 1, announcing that Israel is fully open to receive visitors, assuring that most cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Galilee, and the Dead Sea areas, are safe. The statement also confirmed that pilgrimage activities are ongoing both day and night, and the Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, is fully operational.
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