NCPC Set To Complete Easter Pilgrimage As President Tinubu Assures Of Support

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), is set to commence and complete the 2023 Easter pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan that was temporarily put on hold due to operational reasons

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, who announced this on Friday, September 1, 12023 when he paid a visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that about 1000 intending pilgrims were on ground for the commencement of the Easter pilgrimage exercise which would hopefully kick start on September 18, 2-023.

This was as President Tinubu pledged his support for the commission and urged Rev. Pam to remain focused at all times.

The NCPC boss said that the commission will commence the airlift of intending pilgrims from Lagos State, and would be followed by intending pilgrims from Bayelsa, Imo, FCT and self-sponsored pilgrims.

Pam while briefing President Tinubu on the activities and mandate of the apex Christian faith based Agency of government in Nigeria, affirmed the efficacy of using pilgrimage as a tool for national prayer retreat in the holy land.

He further said that the NCPC in addition to its statutory mandate of supervising, coordinating, licencing and regulating Christian pilgrimage activities in Nigeria, also use its platform to engender peace across the country, stressing that without peace, there would be no meaningful development anywhere in the world.

A statement by Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations of the NCPC said that Rev Pam also intimated President Tinubu of the Commission’s pilgrimage activities and programmes in Israel, Rome, Jordan and Greece.

Pam also explained the pivotal role the Commission played during the last general election in which the pilgrims interceded for the country in the holy land for a hitch free general election.

He congratulated President TInubu for his successful inauguration as the 16th President of Nigeria and also lauded the president for the support and cooperation the Commission over the years.

The Executive Secretary of the NCPC solicited the cooperation of the Federal Government in creating the enabling environment for pilgrimage activities to thrive in Nigeria, saying; “prayer is what has been keeping Nigeria together”.

In his remarks, President TInubu acknowledged the good work Rev Pam had been doing in NCPC especially his efforts at repositioning the Commission by making Christian pilgrimage more spiritual and developmental.