By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Ahead of the 2025 Easter Pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite is in Turkey on an inspection of the pilgrims’ aircraft in Antalya, Turkey to ensurea seamless exercise.
This was contained in a press release signed by the NCPC, Head Media, Celestine Toruka, made available to Daybreak.
According to the release, Bishop Adegbite who arrived Turkey on Friday, September 5, 2025, was warmly received by the executive director of Atlasjet, Mr. Serkan Yazicioglu, the NCPC-approved air carrier for the airlift of Nigerian Christian pilgrims this year.
The NCPC boss stated that the inspection procedure is a mandate on
his administration to ensure strict adherence to the principle of due process, adding that the Commission cannot afford to compromise on its set standards.
Bishop Adegbite said, “The physical inspection of the pilgrims’ aircraft is necessary to ensure that the aircraft meets the required specifications as codified in the contractual agreement between the Commission and the air carrier.”
He noted that the Commission would stop at nothing to ensure that the philosophy behind its corporate slogan, “Service and Satisfaction,” is well implemented, as he acknowledged its fitness to airlift the Nigerian pilgrims safely and comfortably.
He thanked the Atlasjet boss, Mr. Serkan Yazicioglu, for his expertise and unwavering commitment to serving the Nigerian Christian pilgrims seamlessly.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Atlasjet, Mr. Serkan Yazicioglu, assured the NCPC boss that there would be no service failure in their operation, stating that the safety of the Nigerian pilgrims has been their priority.
He explained that the aircraft is an Airbus with a seating capacity of 350 and is technically top-notch with in-flight modern facilities. He assured the executive secretary that the aircraft would be deployed to Nigeria before September 14, preparatory to the inaugural flight of the airlift of intending Christian pilgrims to Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Commission is optimistic that the successful aircraft inspection by the Executive Secretary, the Commission is set to flag off the delayed 2025 Easter Pilgrimage exercise on September 14, 2025, at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State capital, Toruka emphasized.
… As Gov. Uzodinma Tasks Imo Intending Pilgrims on Good Behaviour In Holy
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The lmo State Gov, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has tasked the intending Christian pilgrims of Imo State to be of good behavior and ambassadors of the state and Nigeria.
The governor made this disclosure on September 4, 2025, in Owerri, Imo State capital, during the 2025 orientation program organized by the Imo State Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for intending Christian pilgrims for the 2025 delayed Easter Pilgrimage exercise held at the Government House Chapel, Owerri.
The governor was represented at the event by his deputy, Dr. Chinyere Ekomaru. Senator Uzodimma charged the intending Christian pilgrims to ensure they conduct themselves in a most excellent manner as true believers of Christ while in the Holy Land.
He admonished them to obey instructions from the NCPC officials who will be there to guide and provide leadership in the Holy Land, working in synergy with the ground handlers in Israel.
Zonal Coordinator of NCPC South East Zonal Office, Mrs. Nwamaka Okpara who represented the Executive Secretary of NCPC, emphasized the purpose of pilgrimage, which hinges on the spiritual upliftment and well-being of the pilgrims aimed at having an encounter with God during pilgrimage.
She urged pilgrims to conduct themselves decently in the Holy Land and to shun any tendency that would tarnish the image of Nigeria in the Holy Land.
She reiterated that the orientation program for intending Christian pilgrims remains a key component of the commission’s policy before the commencement of the airlift of intending Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.
In his remarks, the Board Chairman of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Fr. Gilbert Alaribe, commended Gov. Uzodinma for his unwavering faith and commitment to the spiritual well-being of the people of Imo State. He affirmed that Governor Hope Uzodimma had continually maintained the lead in pilgrimage sponsorship in the South East and has sponsored over 1,000 pilgrims in the past few years and is again sponsoring 1,000 pilgrims in 2025.
Rev. Fr. Alaribe further commended the Governor for creating an enabling environment for the intending Christian pilgrims to be airlifted on September 14, 2025, straight to the Holy Land from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri for the first time in the history of Christian pilgrimage in the state.
Also speaking, the Board Secretary of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Canon Kelechi Ejingini, commended the Bishop Adegbite for his visionary leadership style and the Commission’s strong collaboration between South East Zonal office and the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.
The theme of the NCPC delayed Easter Pilgrimage exercise, which is a spillover of the 2024 Main pilgrimage exercise, is “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration.”
End
