By Ngozi Nwankwo
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite has said there is the need to review the cost of 2024 Christian pilgrimage.
The review, according to Adegbite, became apt owing to the fluctuation in the rate of dollar and the current economic situation of the country.
The Executive Secretary said, ” There will be a change because of fluctuation of the rate of dollar, we are dealing with dollar. We cannot fix pilgrimage cost now, we will see the authorities and have more realistic figure and once we finalize, we will announce it. We must make sure that everybody is happy with what we will come up with.”
Adegbite assured that the new pilgrimage cost would be fixed moment there is a stability in dollar rate.
Meanwhile, appreciated Mr President, the Minister of Finance, and the Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN, governor for the dollar rate that is dropping.
Adegbite explained that when dollar drops it would reduce the pressure on pilgrims and it will also bring stability on Commission’s pilgrimage arrangement.
Executive Secretary disclosed this to Journalists during a one on one interview in his office, Abuja recently.
The NCPC boss , however, expressed optimistic that the current economic hardship in the country would soon be over, also encouraged Nigerians to be fervent in prayer.
It would recalled that the former NCPC Executive Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Pam had released the cost and breakdown of the Pilgrimage package of 2023/2024 main pilgrimage exercise to Rome and Greece.
Pam had pegged the cost at N3million per pilgrim, saying the amount covers return flight, hotel accomodations, three course- meal per day and your to Holy Sites.
While assuring the effort of the Commission to bring satisfaction and reduce pressure on pilgrims, Adegbite said there was a push drive to get state governors and other stakeholders’ support for the 2024 pilgrimage exercise.
” The dollar rate will definitely affect the number of the pilgrims that will go on pilgrimage this year. But we have embarked on sensitisation visit to the states and many governors have promised to support us,” he said.
He therefore promised that his leadership would leverage on the renewed hope agenda of the Mr President to bring desired satisfaction in the Commission and pilgrimage exercise.