By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCOC, has kick started the 2021 main pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan and Rome in first quarter of the year 2022.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam made the disclosure on 12th January, 2022 during an interview with a Media platform in Abuja.
This was contained in a press release signed by NCPC Head, Media & Public Relations, Celestine Toruka made available to Daybreak.
Rev. Pam reiterated the Commission’s commitment towards a hitch free 2021 pilgrimage exercise.
He recalled that the 2020 maiden pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan was a huge success despite the fact that the exercise took place at the peak of the global pandemic, adding that the exercise also recorded zero abscondment of pilgrims.
The NCPC boss noted that due to the huge success recorded in Jordan pilgrimage, countries like Israel and Turkey are now eager to work with the Commission which is a healthy development for the growth of the nation’s Christian Pilgrimage.
According to him, the pilgrimage route for the 2021 pilgrimage exercise would start from Israel to Jordan while the Rome package will start from Rome to Israel”.
He revealed that the Commission would make every effort to raise as much as 10,000 intending pilgrims for the 2021 main pilgrimage.
The NCPC Chief Executive also hinted that the Commission as part of its preparation for the 2021 pilgrimage, would embark on the State of Readiness visit to Israel with the State pilgrimage Leaders by the end of January, 2022. He explained that the visit would afford them the opportunity to inspect the Hotels as well as the Holy Sites in Israel.
He further disclosed that the Commission would ensure that it meets with the requirements of international travels in line with the guidelines of the Federal Government and the Israeli authorities on COVID-19 protocols.
To this end, he intimated that the Commission had embarked on the administration of the COVID-19 booster doses for staff who had taken the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine which would be extended to the intending pilgrims in the states.
The statement also read that the Commission has included selected members of the Federal Medical team for the 2021 main pilgrimage were ready and they would be able to render effective medical care for our pilgrims during pilgrimage.
