The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission has announced that it will airlift 10,000 Christians for a holy pilgrimage to Jordan and Turkey starting December 22, 2024.
Each intending pilgrim has paid ₦3 million for the 10-day spiritual journey, amounting to a total of ₦30 billion generated from the Nigerian contingent.
According to the PUNCH, this was disclosed by the NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, on Sunday.
According to Bishop Adegbite, the December pilgrimage marks the first Christian pilgrimage of the year following previous delays.
The participants are expected to visit historical religious sites in Jordan and Turkey during their 10-day trip.
In response to earlier speculation, Adegbite confirmed that the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, would not be leading the pilgrims, contrary to initial plans in March.
The NCPC has faced several challenges in organizing its pilgrimage exercises this year. The Easter pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan was initially scheduled for March 2024, with the President’s wife and the SGF proposed as leaders.
However, the exercise was postponed due to logistical and financial concerns, including an increase in the cost of the pilgrimage from ₦3 million to ₦4.8 million.
Despite announcing in April that the pilgrimage would begin in June, the NCPC experienced further setbacks. In October, Bishop Adegbite assured stakeholders that the pilgrimage would still hold before the end of the year, emphasizing that the primary pilgrimage season spans November to February.
With the December pilgrimage confirmed, the NCPC has reassured stakeholders of its commitment to ensuring a smooth and meaningful spiritual experience.
The commission noted that delays earlier in the year were due to efforts to secure safe and comfortable travel arrangements for participants.
This upcoming pilgrimage reflects the NCPC’s renewed dedication to providing opportunities for Nigerians to deepen their faith through visits to significant religious sites.
