The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Reverend Yakubu Pam has dispelled fear being entertained in some quarters by intending pilgrims to Jerusalem over the conflict by Israel and HAMAS.
Addressing this year’s third batch of Pilgrims in Abuja on Monday, Rev. Pam disclosed that Israel’s ongoing war with HAMAS will not stop Nigerian Christian pilgrimage flight scheduled for Tuesday night.
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He explained that the Federal Government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NCPC have been monitoring the situation in Israel, adding that a final decision on planned visit to Israel would be taken after three days’ tour of holy sites of the Old Testament era in Jordan.
He said: “We have faith but we are not replicating Daniel’s entry into the lion’s den; the Federal Government is monitoring the situation and we are in touch with Israeli authorities so we are quite optimistic.
“A private group of 70 Nigerian Christian Pilgrims just arrived Israel today (Monday) and a batch from Lagos state is returning aboard an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft, the third and last batch for the year will leave on Tuesday night and arrive Jordan the following morning; thus far, there is no cause for anxieties and authorities in both Jordan and Israel are in touch with us.
“Those who genuinely feel some anxieties should note that the ongoing conflict is around Gaza in the very southern part of Israel but all the places that Christian pilgrims visit are in the Northern parts of Israel; we now have clean records of no abscondment and pilgrims use the opportunity to collectively pray for Nigeria.”
He further explained that the Federal Government and authorities in both Israel and Jordan have confronted the issue of absconding pilgrims.
Reverend Pam added that such problems are now almost non-existent as any suspicious move by a Pilgrim results in immediate return to Nigeria, along with payment of fines by those who sign as sureties.
He charged all Christian Pilgrims to pray spiritedly for the peace and progress of Nigeria during the nine days of visits to Old Testament holy sites in Jordan and New Testament holy sites in Israel.
He admonished the pilgrims to always reflect patriotism, forgiveness, generosity and other worthy virtues henceforth.
Also speaking, Mr. Sunny Ude, who is NCPC’s Director of Mobilization, urged them to live out Christian virtues in practical terms, adding that behaviours such as negative comments against Nigeria or its government also reflects disregard for one’s family and the nation’s collective future.
