By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 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.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who was representing the president emphasized on the powers of prayers and the sanctity of religion.
He urged the intending Christian Pilgrims to see their Pilgrimage journey as an opportunity to deepen their faith in God.
He explained that pilgrimage is a spiritual journey of faith and should be treated with all seriousness.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has commended the bold initiatives taken by the Commission under the able leadership of Bishop Stephen Adegbite.
He noted that the theme of the 2024 NCPC Main pilgrimage exercise, which is “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration”, is apt and 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.
President Tinubu also admonished intending Pilgrims not to abscond in the holy land, but should uphold Nigeria as their fatherland.
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, said he was particularly delighted to witness the 2024 major maiden Pilgrimage exercise under his leadership as the 4th substantive Executive Secretary of NCPC.
He revealed that there have been challenges since he assumed office on 5th February 2024, but despite that, “we have remained focused on our mandate to ensure smooth conduct of our pilgrimage to the holy sites around the world in line with the NCPC 2007 enabling Act of the National Assembly.”
The NCPC boss expressed optimism that at the end of this year main pilgrimage exercise, as he prayed that,”there will be restoration at all levels, the Lord will certainly restore everything we have lost as a people”.
He admonished the intending pilgrims to be of exemplary conduct, adding, “you must not be found wanting while on pilgrimage.”
He affirmed that Pilgrimage is not a respecter of titles, ranks or status, but a leveler t and a time to exhibit humility, piousness, and decorum.
Furthermore, he assured the intending pilgrims of excellent services by the Commission’s service providers both in Israel and Jordan.
Likewise, he warned against absconding as the Commission strongly frowned at it.
Bishop Adegbite said, “the Commission under my watch seriously frowns at absconding and whoever is found culpable will face the wrath of the law, including their guarantors whose names and that of the offenders will be blacklisted and published in the national newspapers”.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for providing the enabling environment for Pilgrimage to thrive in Nigeria, and thanked him for the support for the Commission which is unprecedented.
The first batch of Christian pilgrims from Lagos state for the NCPC 2024 Main pilgrimage exercise were made up of about 260 intending pilgrims, but the total number of officials and pilgrims on the flight were about 350.
