By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, said it would adopt the whistle – blowing mechanism to curb pilgrim abscondment perceived to be aided by Staff of the Commission.
This was contained in a communique reached at the end of a 4 – Day Retreat held in Jos, Plateau State from Monday 4- Thursday 7, 2023.
The NCPC also resolved that all intending pilgrims should be thoroughly screen, but where it becomes impossible to physically screen any intending pilgrim, should be screened via Zoom in order to beat Visa application deadlines.
That all screening exercises should be led by very senior and experience officers to avoid the incidents of abscondment.
In light of this, the name of any suspected pilgrims should be compiled and given to staff traveling with them to nip any attempt to escape on the part of the pilgrims.
Also, the ratio of staff in any bus should increased in order to curtail attempts of escaping.
The Commission said it would evolve an effective screening system using State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards to achieve more positive outcomes in its pilgrimage processes.
That Pilgrims forms for use by State Christian Pilgrims welfare Boards should be carefully and thoroughly harmonized across various States and approved by the Commission before use by such States.
That all States Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board should treat pilgrims who have been airlifted by the Commission to various Holy Sites as Nigerian pilgrims and not the limited to pilgrims belonging to a particular state.
That the Commission will embark on continuous re-evaluation of screening reports and the list of names sent for Visa procurement.
