By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, gets ready to commence the airlifting of intending pilgrims for the Easter Pilgrimage exercise, the Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite has assured Nigerians of their safety and peace when they land in Israel.
Bishop Adegbite gave this assurance in Abuja on Wednesday at the celebration of his 100 Days in office, with the them: “100 Days of Navigating The Waters of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria”.
He said, ” I say to Nigerians that Israel is safe. We now have a letter officially written by the Minister of Interior from Israel that pilgrimage has returned to Israel and everywhere is safe in Israel and by the special grace of God the destination of pilgrimage is Israel and Jerusalem.”
Highlighting on peace and security in the Holy Land, he said, “There is an assurance for us that there is peace and there will be maximum security for us when we visit the Holy land.”
“You will recall that I was there three weeks ago there was nothing. You will never hear a gunshot throughout your pilgrimage exercise.”
“By the special grace of God we are going on pre- visits to Israel and Jordan from 30th of this month . We will be there for 6 days for retreat and also pre- vists and.will return to Nigeria and by his grace will will being airlifting of Pilgrims by the month of June.”
We have been in touch with people from other nations performing their pilgrimage.
So we give Nigerians the assurance again we will go safely and return with joy. So you are safe in Israel by the special grace of God, he emphasized.
Speaking on the success story of his first 100 days in office, Bishop Adegbite expressed his appreciation to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his administration for supporting the course in the Commission.
He also thanked the staff of the Commission for their unflinching support since he took over the mantle of leadership.
Meanwhile, the Bishop also hinted that there is a reschedule in the timetable of Nigerian Pilgrimage exercise .
He said, “Pilgrimage is Nigeria is no longer every month . Pilgrimage in Nigeria has been rescheduled to take place between April and July, that is Easter pilgrimage and the second one will be the main pilgrimage from November to February.”
Furthermore , Bishop Adegbite further condemned the carnage in Gaza.
He said, “The carnage going on in Gaza must stop, we don’t encourage it, innocent children are suffering , young people who do not know anything about terrorism, all those perpetratoring these heinous act must be looked for and be brought to book.”
Highlight of the 100 days celebration was the unveiling of the special edition of “The Nigerian Pilgrim Magazine”.
