By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam has said that the Commission is the only superintendent body to clarify pilgrimage travels must be clarified by NCPC.
Rev. Pam said this in Lagos on 19th April 2023 during a strategic meeting with the executives and members of the Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria, CTPAN.
He noted that the NCPC enabling Act of 2007 empowers it to superintend and coordinates all Christian pilgrimage activities to the Holy Sites around the world.
He explained that the Commission works closely with the various state Christian pilgrims welfare Boards in the mobilization of intending Pilgrims.
According to him, members of CPTAN have direct link with the Commission.
He said ,” you can register with NCPC, but you are not allow taking pilgrims for pilgrimage without recourse to the Commission”. He stated further.”
” We want to be more organized than ever in pursuit of our pilgrimage activities , I am committed to excellent service delivery, even staff of the Commission will be sanctioned if they are found wanting.”
The NCPC stressed that screening of intending Pilgrims is critical not because of absconders, but to also ensure and certify the medical fitness of every intending Pilgrims.
He condemned the situation whereby some desperate intending Pilgrims go through the Association so that they could use such a platform to abscond while on pilgrimage.
To this effect, he affirmed that the Commission’s policy on absconders is stringent and would stop at nothing to punish erring culprits.
He urges members of CPTAN to leverage on the scheduled inaugural direct flight of Air peace Airline to Tel AVIV, Israel on 2oth April to fly their pilgrims directly to Israel through Air Peace Airline.
Rev Pam described the bold initiative of Air peace Airline as a welcome development to advance the pilgrimage sub-sector in Nigeria.
The NCPC boss also intimated that the Jordanian Minister of Tourism would soon visit Nigeria to strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries.
Meanwhile, the NCPC boss disclosed his recent exploration visit to Turkey where he visited some Christian holy sites.
He said,” we are going to explore Turkey to link with our pilgrimage programmes so that we can connect it with business opportunities in the spirit of Apostle Paul.”
President of the Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria, CTPAN Rev Dr. Israel Kristilere thanked the Executive Secretary for convening the meeting, and pledged the cooperation of his members in advancing the cause of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.
