By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, has airlifted the 3rd batch of intending Pilgrims of Imo State to Israel and Jordan via the Port Harcourt International Airport on the 18th of May, 2023.
The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam in a farewell, orientation message assured the intending Pilgrims that the Commission would continue to provide excellent service delivery to the Nigerian Pilgrims while in the Holy land.
He explained that the Commission would ensure that the service providers deliver their own contractual agreement reached with the Commission.
Rev.Pam said,” We have the right to suspend any of our service providers if found wanting”, as he assured that the welfare of the Nigerian Pilgrims would never be compromised.
He explained that the Commission would continue to do everything possible to make sure that no pilgrim has any cause to complain as every logistics had been put in place to ensure a smooth and hitch free pilgrimage exercise.
He described the intending Pilgrims as the Ambassadors of the Commission, stating that once a Pilgrim receives the Jerusalem Pilgrim title, he or she becomes the Ambassador of the Commission through the evangelization of pilgrimage.
The NCPC lead urged all intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, Christ, Imo State respectively.
Furthermore, he thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the enabling environment for Christian pilgrimage to thrive in the country .
He also thanked Gov. Hope Uzodinma for sponsoring about 1000 Imo christians to the Holy land after a period of ten years without pilgrimage sponsorship by the state .
Chairman of the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev Fr Gilbert Alaribe, thanked Rev Pam for the unquantifiable cooperation he enjoyed from the Commission.
Rev Fr Alaribe also thanked the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma for his uncommon concern for the welfare of christians in Imo State.
He urged the intending Pilgrims to pray fervently for the state and themselves in Jordan and Israel.
It would be recalled that the first batch of pilgrims from Imo State departed for the Holy land on 28th April, 2023 and the second batch departed on 8th May, 2023 from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu made up of pilgrims from Enugu state.
This third batch is made up of about 300 intending Pilgrims from Imo State.
