By Ngozi Nwankwo
The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam said the Commission has been given the powers to explore Holy Sites around the world.
He disclosed this at the Victor Attah International Airport UYo, during the airlift of intending pilgrims of Cross River state and Ondo state.
Pam said the NCPC Act which established the Commission in 2007 empowers it to explore Holy Sites with good geographical landmarks and biblical references in the world which explains why the Commission has extended its Pilgrimage scope to Rome, Greece, Jordan and is already planning to explore Holy Sites in Turkey as soon as possible.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for given NCPC the enabling environment to exercise the powers given to the Commission by its enabling Act.
Pam, however, commended the two states that were being airlifted from the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, Cross River state and Ondo state for taking part in the current Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan.
He disclosed that similar orientation programme being organized at the Victor Attah International Airport, UYo was held in Enugu for the intending pilgrims of Ebonyi State who would join the intending pilgrims of Cross River state and Ondo to make up the third batch of intending pilgrims that would leave the shores of Nigeria to the Holy land of Israel and Jordan.
The NCPC boss further applauded the Governors of the South South for their sponsorship of christians to the Holy land especially in recent time. According to him,” God is using the Governors to advance the Kingdom”.
He explained that this spiritual journey is taking place at the most critical time when the nation is preparing for its general election. His words, ” this is the moment to go and pray”.
He warned the intending pilgrims to shun any tendency to abscond during Pilgrimage as the Commission would stop at nothing to ensure that such absconder is brought to book with the guarantor.
This third batch of intending pilgrims are made up of Cross River, Ondo and Ebonyi State contingent.
It would be recalled that the Commission commenced the December 2022 Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan on 16th December, 2022 in Enugu State.