BY BOLANLE OLAJIDE, ABUJA – As part of its determination to flush out illegal pilgrimage operators in the country particularly in Lagos State, the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) is to partner with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
This was as the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam described the activities of unregistered operators in the pilgrimage sub sector as “illegal”, stressing that it amounts to human trafficking”.
In this direction, the NCPC boss said the Commission is seeking the collaboration of the NIS in flushing out charlatans in the affairs of pilgrimage operation in Nigeria.
Pam, who unveiled the plan when he visited the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Mrs Kemi Nandap, said that the NCPC seriously frowns at what is happening in the Lagos axis where unlicensed pilgrimage operators take people to the Holy land without recourse to the Commission.
The NCPC boss who was in Lagos with his delegation to meet with the Airport management and to also inspect facilities at the airport for the 2021 main pilgrimage exercise to Israel, Jordan and Rome, said that the Commission’s 2007 establishment Act of Parliament, empowers it to licence, renew and regulate all Christian pilgrimage activities in Nigeria.
Pam also expressed displeasure at the rate people use the platform of the illegal bodies who did not register with the Commission to abscond from the country under the guise of pilgrimage.
He stressed that abscondment under any guise is anti-pilgrimage, adding that the Commission would stop at nothing to discourage and put an end to it, stressing that it tarnishes the image of the country.
Speaking, the Comptroller Nigeria Immigration Service Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Mrs Kemi Nandap promised to collaborate with the NCPC by beaming the search light on the activities of illegal pilgrimage operators in Lagos so that they can no longer hide under pilgrimage to facilitate the escape of persons out of the country.
Nandap advised the NCPC to avail the Service with the list of registered and licensed pilgrimage operators with NCPC and also the screened list of all intending pilgrims with the pilgrimage operators so that the Immigration officers would be able to carry out due diligence on them frequently.
She commended the NCPC boss for the renewed partnership which would help both organizations to pursue the noble objective.
