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Rev. Pam screens some intending pilgrims at the exercise
By Anthony Maliki
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam has warned against any pilgrim contemplating absconding while performing the exercise in the Holy Land.
He said absconding while on pilgrimage is a sin against God noting nobody should hide under the guise of pilgrimage to abscond.
The Executive Secretary spoke Tuesday in Abuja at the flag off of the screening on intending pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of Nigeria by the FCT Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board.
The NCPC boss explained that the upcoming pilgrimage will be to Israel and the last two or three days will be to Jordan where a return flight will be taken. This will be the first of such exercise.
Besides, he said very stern measures have been put in place by Israeli security to ensure that no pilgrim abscond and warned those intending to do so to desist as it is not business as usual.
Rev. Pam noted absconding while on Holy pilgrimage is in bad taste and puts Nigeria in bad spotlight noting that if anyone wants to leave the country, it should be done with heads high.
According to him, there are instances where there might be staff of NCPC or states welfare boards help people abscond by compromising screening.
Rev. Pam noted that those who would be opportune to get an Israeli visa would go to Jordan fully for the pilgrimage.
He urged the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in the Holy Land and pray for a peaceful elections and end of challenge of insecurity.
Speaking to journalists later, Rev. Pam explained that the actual take of pilgrims would be in the third week of March but the exact day and take-off airport has not been determined.
He also said the spiritual leader of the pilgrimage is the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama.
Rev. Pam said though the Commission is targeting over 10,000 people to perform the pilgrimage, it is 3500 already. The Executive Secretary also said the last batch of the pilgrims would perform the exercise in Rome and Israel.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola represented by a Director, Akang Samuel Udoh urged the intending pilgrims to concentrate on the exercise and with humility.
He told them that religion is not fiction but reality as they would experience during the exercise.
