The Federal Government has warned Christian pilgrims travelling to Israel and Jordan against absconding, threatening consequences for themselves and their guarantors.
President Bola Tinubu urged the pilgrims to return to Nigeria, saying, “There is no place like home,” while Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, warned that anyone who absconds will face consequences.
The advise by the President and the threat by the NCPC helmsman comes against the backdrop of the ongoing departure of Nigerians overseas in quest of brighter pastures.
In a post on X on Monday, the Head of Media and Public Relations of the NCPC, Celestine Toruka, stated that Tinubu flagged off the 2024 primary Christian pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan on Sunday.
According to him, Tinubu, accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, launched the airlift of pilgrims on Sunday in Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The President encouraged the pilgrims to view their journey as an opportunity to deepen their faith in God.
He added that the theme of the 2024 pilgrimage, which is “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration,” was in line with the vision and agenda of his administration.
Toruka’s post read: “The President of the Federation Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT has flagged off the 2024 Main Christian Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 22nd December 2024 at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume @SGFAkume, Mr. President emphasised the powers of prayers and the sanctity of religion. He urged the intending Christian pilgrims to see their pilgrimage journey as a chance to deepen their faith in God.
“He reiterated that the theme of the 2024 NCPC main pilgrimage exercise, which is “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration” is apt as it is in line with the vision and agenda of his administration.
“He urged the intending pilgrims to pray for the progress of Nigeria, Lagos State, and their families. Mr. President also admonished them not to abscond in the holy land, stating that Nigeria is their fatherland and there is no place better than home”.
According to Toruka, the NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Adegbite, in his welcome address, also admonished the intending pilgrims to be exemplary in their conduct during the exercise, noting that the pilgrimage was a time to demonstrate humility, piety, and decorum while assuring them of excellent services from the commission’s service providers.
He warned against absconding, saying, “The commission, under my watch, seriously frowns on it, and whoever is found culpable will face the wrath, including their guarantors, whose names and that of the absconders will be blacklisted and published in national newspapers.
“He thanked Mr. President for providing the enabling environment for pilgrimage to thrive in Nigeria and for his unprecedented support to the commission,” the statement added.
According to Toruka, the first batch of 260 pilgrims from Lagos State was joined by 90 officials, bringing the total number to 350.
Chronicle NG reported that 10,000 Nigerians registered for this year’s holy pilgrimage to Israel, with each paying N3 million, bringing Nigeria’s total expenditure on the pilgrimage to N30 billion.
Meanwhile, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has advised Christians in his state to postpone their plans for holy pilgrimage this year.
The Middle East has served as a battlefield for Israel and several Arab countries, resulting in deaths.
Bago, addressing on Sunday at the state government’s 2024 State Christmas Carol, urged the Christian faithful to be patient during this year’s pilgrimage to Israel due to what he called “the lack of peace in the Holy Land.”.
“I appeal to the Christian faithful in the state to exercise patience over this year’s pilgrimage to Israel over the lack of peace in the Holy Land. Allowing pilgrims to travel there would be equivalent to signing their death warrants,” said Bago, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Afiniki Dauda.
emphasising that he would not in good conscience authorise a trip that would put the lives of Christian pilgrims at risk, the governor said, “I am not willing to give tickets that would lead to the death of our Christian brothers and sisters.
“I urge them to be patient and wait until peace returns to the Middle East. The safety of our citizens is paramount, and we will not compromise on that,” he said.
