BY BECKY OLAJIDE, ABUJA – The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Yakubu Pam has declared that the agency frowns at the tendency of some intending pilgrims absconding during pilgrimage.
Pam, who stated the position of the NCPC at the official flag off and screening exercise for the first batch of intending Adamawa Pilgrims to Rome, particularly cautioned intending pilgrims to Rome not to attract negative image on Nigeria.
The NCPC boss who supervised the screening exercise of the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Yola, appreciated Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for his dynamic leadership, especially with regard to the way and manner he handles religious matters in the State.
Pam also applauded Fintiri for his timely intervention in resolving issues of the intending Adamawa pilgrim to Rome, saying that the Adamawa governor is a reconciliatory and humble He noted that the style of leadership of Governor Fintiri has made Adamawa State a unique State where Christians and Muslims are united.
Pam said that this would be the first time the Commission would be travelling to Israel and Jordan as a combined pilgrimage destination for the 2021 main/2022 Easter pilgrimage while other pilgrimage destination will be Rome and Israel.
The NCPC Chief Executive said that the intending pilgrims of Adamawa State to Rome will be air lifted directly from Yola International Airport.
In his own remarks, the Chairman of the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop Peter Bartimawus said that event marked the validation of the screening exercise for intending Adamawa pilgrims to Rome, adding that it would be the desire of every one that the screening exercise take them to the Holy Land. Bartimawus appealed to the intending pilgrims to be law abiding just as he commended Governor Fintiri for his kind gesture in sponsoring the first batch made up of 105 intending pilgrims to Rome.
