NCPC targets to raise about 10,000 pilgrims in 2022
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam has disclosed plans of the commission to raise about 10,000 pilgrims in 2022.
Speaking in Lagos during an interactive session with the media, Rev. Pam stated that the agency has already raised about 3000 of that expected figures from the states.
The NCPC boss observed with dismay that the pilgrims spirit is dying in the South East.
The South East zone that is predominantly Christians scored the least on sponsorship of Christian pilgrims, followed by South West zone, he said.
Rev Pam said Enugu state Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Lagos state counterpart, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu have done well in sponsorship of Christian pilgrims.
He said Ebonyi state Governor has now booked to sponsor 300 pilgrims, Imo state 500 and Lagos 300.
Rev Pam said NCPC is working on a scheme for people to save money and sponsor themselves on Pilgrimage.
He said over 1000 people are on self sponsorship to Jordan for pilgrimage.
Rev Pam stated that the commission is looking at the churches taken over the sponsorship of the Christian pilgrimages.
He said he has been going round the country to build relationships with Christian fathers, church groups and the Governors to sponsor pilgrims.
Rev Pam further stated that he has been involved in different peace missions to the South East to intervene on the issue of IPOB and the End SARS Protest in Lagos.
The NCPC boss said he came on board with a 6 point agenda in fighting corruption in the commission, rebuilding relationships with the governors and Christian fathers.
To fight corruption in the commission, the NCPC boss explained that he has made the procurement process clean by ensuring things like returning travel allowance when he’s supposed to travel but could not make it.
He disclosed further that Jordan has been added into the Christian pilgrimage package.
He said the NCPC has put up a strategy to ensure there is zero abscondment of pilgrims.
Rev Pam said part of the strategy is also to peg the age limit of intending pilgrims to 40.
He said the sites approved based on NCPC Act include, Israel, Rome, Jordan, Greece and some part of Egypt which is suspended based on insecurity.
Rev Pam said Israel will be opened for pilgrimage in January 2022, while the commission is preparing for February to travel to the holy land.
On the issue of direct flight from Nigeria to Israel, the NCPC boss explained that the commission is working on getting the issue of direct sorted out, but explained that Israel came up with a proposal that their security personnel must be in any flight emanating from Nigeria to Israel for security reasons which the commission rejected.
He said the agreed plan is for the Israeli security operatives to come to Nigeria to inspect the facilities and security at the Nigerian airports and give their approval.
Rev. Pam said the issue is not which airline operates direct flight to Israel but in sorting out the modalities that will make the direct flight possible.
He noted that the NCPC is currently building a 12 story building in Abuja which it started from ground zero .
On why the commission is not considering including local religious sites in Nigeria on its package, or recognising them for pilgrimage, Rev Pam pointed out that based on the NCPC Acts, the body can only embark of pilgrimages to sites connected with Jesus Christ’s missionary journey on earth and that of other notable Bible prophets.
He said these sites can only be accommodated when the NCPC Act is amended and the sites are verified.
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