The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) is set to commence the airlift of intending pilgrims to Israel June 27, 2018.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Reverend Uja Tor Uja disclosed this recently in Abuja during a strategic meeting of NCPC with the states chairmen and Secretaries of Pilgrims Welfare Board.
He explained that this pilgrimage exercise which is termed the Easter pilgrimage was supposed to have been held between March and April, but was delayed due to visa issues with the Israeli authorities.
The NCPC helmsman stated that Nigeria and Israel had agreed on a template on how to run the pilgrimage. Thus, he stated that the pilgrimage would run from June 27 to July 30, while the maiden women pilgrimage would kick off on July 30, 2018
He informed that the Commission would airlift the pilgrims from four airport destinations -Abuja, Port Harcourt, Yola and Lagos.
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He affirmed that Nigeria is the only country in the world that has organised pilgrimage which is backed up by law as he appreciated the government and people of Nigeria for the support in advancing the cause of pilgrimage in Nigeria.
Reverend Uja stated that Christian pilgrims are people who are set out to lift up the destiny of a nation through prayers.
Reverend Uja disclosed that the commission would institute a monthly prayer for Nigeria beginning from July, this year. Consequently, he stated that every state would spend a full day praying and fasting during pilgrimage.
He further intimated that all intending pilgrims from the states must have an orientation programme with NCPC to checkmate potential absconders.
The NCPC boss also hinted that the commission had developed three pilgrimage goals for a better pilgrimage. These include projection and commitment to Christ, provoking Nigerian’s nationalism as well as promotion of leadership and productive elements.
He explained that in the past two years, Christian pilgrimage had recorded zero percent mortality rate for pilgrims which he attributed to effective medical screening. In the words of the NCPC boss, “there will be no room for, abscondment, apart from the safety of every pilgrim who will return to Nigeria”.
Reverend Uja, further stated that the future of Nigeria is so important that we need to pray more for the country. According to him, “we need the church to stand in the gap for Nigerians”.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Conference of States Reverend Isaiah Magaji thanked God for the Executive Secretary of NCPC, his management team and the states pilgrimage leaders.
He also thanked God for the resolution of the visa issues with the Israeli authorities and was elated that all the intending pilgrims that have been expectant to travel would now travel this week.
Reverend Magaji advised Nigerians to invest in Christian pilgrimage and they would certainly not regret it. He equally urged Nigerians to pray for the peace of Nigeria. He stated: “The hand of God that has been working in this country will do us good”.
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