…As Israeli Tourism ministry confirms safety
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has assured that the State of Israel is safe for Nigerian pilgrims.
This was just as the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, said that country is fully open to receive visitors, assuring that most cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Galilee, and the Dead Sea areas, are safe.
The statement by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism also confirmed that pilgrimage activities are ongoing both day and night, and the Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, is fully operational.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Bishop Adegbite, said that Nigerian pilgrims will travel for the Easter Pilgrimage, stressing that it will be a journey for reawakening and rejuvenation and, not a jamboree.
He said; “By the grace of God, Nigerian pilgrims will be safe in Israel. Pilgrims will experience the glory of God by the end of the pilgrimage exercise”.
Adegbite announced that the Easter pilgrimage exercise will commence in June, adding that 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 Adegbite; “The Easter pilgrimage runs from April to July, while the main pilgrimage exercise begins from November and ends in February.
He condemned the ongoing carnage in Gaza and called for an end to the war, saying that even though the Commission’s pilgrimage coverage does not include Gaza, he emphasized the urgent need for peace in the region for humanity’s sake.
The NCPC Executive Secretary said the cost for the Easter pilgrimage exercise will be released next week after considering some variables.
Adegbite recently visited Israel and Jordan on a working visit to the two pilgrimage destination nations during which 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.
The Bishop also assessed the state of things for prospective pilgrims in the Galilee region.
