The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has flagged off it’s screening exercise for intending Pilgrims of the Federal Capital Territory for the 2021 General and 2022 Easter Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan in Abuja.
A signed statement by the Principal Executive Officer, Media Relations, Mary Gana made available to Channel Network Afrique indicates that this is the first screening exercise for the 2021 general and 2022 Easter pilgrimage.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam said the Commission would do everything possible to ensure that the 2021 General pilgrimage and 2022 Easter pilgrimage would be spiritually impactful and transforming.
He further advised the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria as well as discard any plans to abscond under the disguise of the exercise.
Rev. Pam who stated that the Commission had put in place modalities to make abscondment impossible recalled how it recorded zero abscondment during the 2020 pilgrimage exercise to the Kingdom of Jordan saying it has boosted the image of NCPC and Nigeria as a whole.
In his address, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola who was represented by FCT Director of Administration, Mr. Samuel Udoh stated that pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise that requires concentration.
In his word “As you embark on this journey you will discover that Christianity is not a fiction but all that you have read in the Bible will become a reality to you”.
While urging the intending pilgrims to be good religious Ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Federal Capital Territory, the Permanent Secretary said, God, who has chosen them by his divine providence will guard and give them safety as they plan to embark on the Journey.
In his address, the Director of FCT Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Audu Dabara noted that the FCT has recorded zero mortality and zero morbidity in the history of their pilgrimage. He added that the screening of intending pilgrims is to ensure that those who have serious health issues, potential abscondees and bad characters would be screened out.
