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Tag: NCPC

  • No pilgrimage to Israel until crisis is resolved – NCPC

    No pilgrimage to Israel until crisis is resolved – NCPC

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has announced that there would be no further pilgrimage to Israel until the Israel/Iran conflict is resolved.

    The Executive Secretary of the commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The statement was signed by Mr Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations, NCPC.

    Adegbite while addressing circulating reports claiming that Nigerian pilgrims are currently in Israel for pilgrimage activities, refuted the claims.

    He clarified that no Nigerian Christian pilgrims were in Israel, as the Commission’s 2024 main pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan concluded in March 2025.

    “Given the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, which escalated on June 13, no Christian pilgrimage will occur in Israel until the crisis is resolved. The Commission is closely monitoring the situation,” he said.

    The NCPC is the statutory body responsible for coordinating Christian pilgrimages from Nigeria to Israel and other holy sites worldwide.

  • Adegbite begs Nigerians to avoid bloodshed

    Adegbite begs Nigerians to avoid bloodshed

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Archbishop Stephen Adegbite, on Saturday urged Nigerians to shun  killings  and embrace peace.

    Adegbite gave the advice in his 2025 Easter message to Nigerians.

    The message was signed by the NCPC  Head of Media and Public Relations, Mr Celestine Toruka.

    It was made available to newsmen in Lagos State

    Adegbite condemned  killing of  human beings,  urging peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance.

    “We should see one another as fellow humans created by God that should be loved and cared for.

    “The Lenten period is a time of sober reflection and fasting and prayer, which culminates in the celebration of Easter  following the triumphant resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ

    “Easter is a call to sacrificial living. Without Easter, there is no message.

    “Let us live peacefully. We need peace to foster development.

    “As Christians, we need to pray for a better Nigeria during and after Easter,” he said.

    He advised  Christians to celebrate with moderation and show love  to people around them.

    “Be good ambassadors of Christ,” he said.

    He prayed for  Nigeria’s progress and the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

  • We must all join forces to make Nigeria work – NCPC

    We must all join forces to make Nigeria work – NCPC

    At the departure ceremonies for the 12th batch of Christian pilgrims traveling to Israel and Jordan, held in both Abuja and Lagos, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), appealed to the intending pilgrims to actively participate in building a successful Nigeria.

    Mr Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head, Media and Public Relations of NCPC said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    The batch comprised mainly of pilgrims from Ogun, as well as consular officers.

    According to Adegbite, the pilgrims are expected to have a glorious and wonderful journey.

    He emphasised the importance of conducting themselves decently and being good ambassadors of Christ and Nigeria.

    “Pilgrimage is a sacred journey, and we must approach it with reverence and respect.

    “I urge you all to shun any negative tendencies that might tarnish the image of Nigeria in the holy land,”he said.

    Adegbite reiterated the commission’s zero-abscondment stance, urging the pilgrims not to consider abandoning their journey.

    He reaffirmed his belief in Nigeria’s potential, stating that it remains the best nation on earth.

    “I encourage you all to pray for the success of the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda,”he said.

    The NCPC boss also urged the pilgrims to align themselves with the theme of the commission’s 2024 Main Pilgrimage Exercise: “Pilgrimage of Renewed Hope for Total Restoration.

  • Why Christians go on pilgrimage – NCPC boss

    Why Christians go on pilgrimage – NCPC boss

    Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) says pilgrimage is not a jamboree, but a ritual embarked on by Christians seeking the blessings of God.

    Adegbite stated this on Monday at a Church service in Abuja, organised to commemorate his recent appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

    He stressed that the motive behind pilgrimage is for the people to go and return spiritually rejuvenated  and become  better citizens.

    Adegbite said that those who had undertaken the religious rite came back with lots of testimonies on how God touched their lives and healed the sick.

    He assured that pilgrimage would no longer  be business as usual, but those that are dedicated to their work will be rewarded.

    The Methodist Archbishop of Abuja, Michael Adewale, during a sermon, urged the new NCPC boss to seek the face of God for directions in his national assignment.

    The Clergy said that, for the NCPC boss to succeed he must carry everybody along and must not deviate from the mandate of his office.

  • President Tinubu appoints new board, management of NAHCOM, NCPC

    President Tinubu appoints new board, management of NAHCOM, NCPC

    President Bola  Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new board and management team for the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM) and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

    A statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Wednesday in Abuja, said the appointments were pending confirmation by the Senate.

    The board and management of NAHCOM include Mr Jalal Arab, Chairman, and Aliu Abdulrazaq, Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, & Finance

    Others are Prince Anofi Elegush, Commissioner, Operations and Prof. Abubakar A. Yagawal, Commissioner, Planning & Research

    The eight new appointed NAHCOM zonal representatives include Dr Muhammad Umaru Ndagi, North Central; Abba Jato Kala, North East and Sheikh Muhammad Bin Othman, North West

    The rest are Tajudeen Oladejo Abefe, South West; Aishat Obi Ahmed, South East; Zainab Musa, South South; Prof. Musa Inuwa Fodio, Jama’atul Nasril Islam and Prof. Adedimeji Mahfouz Adebola, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

    Similarly, the President approved the appointment of nine board members for the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission with Col. Aloche Adole as Chairman and Dr Stephen Adegbite as Secretary.

    The other members are Omowumi Olubunmi Ogunlola- South West, Clement Alobu Nweke, South East and Chief Prince Weli Wosu, South South.

    Others are Prof. Joseph Haruna Mamman, North West; Dr Toma Hamidu Ragnjiya, North East; Dr Simon Abu Samson Dolly, North Central and Bishop Raphael Benjamin Nwankwo, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    The President charged the new appointees to consider their appointment as an opportunity to serve the nation, urging them to commit themselves to this important purpose.

  • NCPC announces date to commence 2023 Christian pilgrimage

    NCPC announces date to commence 2023 Christian pilgrimage

    The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC),  Rev. Yakubu Pam has disclosed that the Commission would commence the 2023 main pilgrimage to Rome by the third week of January, 2024.

    Pam made this known in a statement made available to newsmen by Mr Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director/Head, Media and Public Relations in Abuja on Friday.

    He explained that based on the current happenings in Israel and the Middle East, the stakeholders unanimously agreed to have the next main pilgrimage exercise in Rome.

    He enjoined the State Pilgrimage Leaders to continue to uphold Israel and the entire Middle East in prayers so that there would be quick de-escalation of the crisis in the region.

    He further urged them to commence mobilisation of intending pilgrims in their various states through effective sensitisation outreach.

    He lauded the efforts of the states who participated in the just concluded Easter Pilgrimage completion exercise which ended on Oct. 9, 2023.

    Pam spoke on Oct. 31 during a meeting with members of the Conference of States, which comprised all the States Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers from the states Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board across the 36 states, including FCT.

    Earlier, the Chairman, Conference of States Rev. Isaiah Magaji thanked the NCPC boss for his visionary leadership.

    Represented by the Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Yetunde Gbafe, Magaji
    urged colleagues to cooperate with the Commission in order to advance the cause of Christian pilgrimage in the country.

    He further commended the executive secretary for being able to stabilise the Christian pilgrimage sub-sector in Nigeria and as well the effective way he had navigated the waters of Christian Pilgrimage for over three years in the saddle.

    The meeting afforded the state Pilgrimage Leaders the opportunity to brainstorm on the challenges and way forward for Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

    Some of the state pilgrimage leaders who could not attend the meeting physically participated virtually.

  • Nigerians earn visas on arrival to Jordan

    Nigerians earn visas on arrival to Jordan

    The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) says its policies on enhancing Nigeria’s image and pilgrimage has earned the country visas on arrival to Jordan.

    Pam made this known during an interview with NAN on the state of the nation on Monday in Abuja.

    According to him, the NCPC has made sure it built a good relationship not only with stakeholders within the country but with the host countries outside Nigeria.

    “At this moment, we have good relationship with Jordan; we have visas on arrival, it is only Nigerians who go there get visas on arrival now.

    “It took this commission a very good policy to build bilateral relationship with our host countries outside; we can beat our chest today that we opened the road for Nigerians to have visas on arrival to Jordan,” he said.

    Another policy Pam said the commission initiated to enhance the pilgrims exercise was building integrity for acceptability by partners involved.

    “We are glad that immediately I came into office, first and foremost, we tried to build on an integrity for acceptability for our partners and our host countries, who we all know are Israel and Jordan and others.

    “Making sure that we have fished out people running away, staying in those lands illegally, which is called abscondment.

    “And that is one policy we made sure we built to ensure people do not use the opportunity for pilgrimage to mar the image of Nigeria.

    “And that is really working; that is why our host countries are inviting us to come for more pilgrim exercises knowing that we have built a very good image for the country,” he added.

  • NASS pledges more support for pilgrim commission

    NASS pledges more support for pilgrim commission

    The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Pilgrims Affairs,  Abubakar Nalaraba has reiterated the National Assembly`s support for the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC).

    Nalaraba stated this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    “We will try our best to see when and how the government can come in to support pilgrimage operation in Nigeria.

    “We at the National Assembly are always ready to make the necessary legislation to enhance pilgrimage operations,” he added.

    The lawmaker said that the services being offered by government to pilgrims, was part of its core social responsibilities.

    Nalaraba said that there was nothing wrong for government to sponsor pilgrims to pray for peace in the country.

    “Pilgrimage is not tourism, it is purely spiritual. Nigeria needs prayers and that’s where people go to pray and have spiritual contact with our maker God,” he added.

    Nalaraba urged governments at different levels to continue to    to sponsor pilgrims to intercede for the nation, especially at this critical time.

    He said that the committee will continue to work with the commission to enhance their operations for effective service delivery.

  • NCPC Boss seeks increased synergy with media

    NCPC Boss seeks increased synergy with media

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, has called for increased synergy between the media and the commission to educate intending pilgrims.

    Pam made the call when he received officials of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, in his office on Friday, in Abuja.

    He said that the media remained the best source of information, as such would also help in educating intending pilgrims on what was expected of them while in Nigeria and the Holy Land.

    “The pilgrims need information from the Commission on a daily basis, and as such, it is the work of the print, electronic and social media to relate such information to the public.

    “We need to work together for the sake of pilgrimage; the Commission cannot do without the media,” the executive secretary said.

    Pam also spoke of the need to revive the reading culture among Nigerians.

    He said that though “we are in a generation of mobile phone users who get their information easily now on social media, Nigerians ought to read to get more informed.”

    Earlier, Mr Chuks Ohuegbe, Director Publication of the Nigerian Pilot newspaper, said the visit was to forge a relationship with the Commission.

  • Pilgrimage will enhance leadership, development- NCPC boss

    Pilgrimage will enhance leadership, development- NCPC boss

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Yakubu Pam, has urged intending pilgrims to ensure that they return with innovations to help in the development of Nigeria.

    He gave the advice when he and some pilgrim leaders arrived at Amman, Jordan on Thursday to appraise the state of readiness on the forthcoming pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.

    In a statement by Mr Godiya Mathew, NCPC’s Information Officer 1, Pam said that “Pilgrimage is a journey of moral and spiritual significance”.

    He said that the Christian pilgrimage goal was to build increased faith in Christ, help provoke Nigeria’s nationalism, and enhance leadership and development.

    He recalled that the Pilgrim Commission was working with its mandate to conduct pilgrimage activities to holy sites around the world.

    Pam further said in 2022, Jordan was included on the list of pilgrimage destinations.

    “I am in Jordan with pilgrim leaders to ascertain the preparedness of the ground handlers.

    “We are to also visit the holy sites and inspect the hotels for intending pilgrims and as well inspect the aircraft at Queen Alia Airport.

    “The kingdom of Jordan is home to religious, archeological, and tourist sights, with a population of about 11 million, of which 97 per cent are Muslims and three per cent Christians.

    “It is recorded to be the most peaceful country in the Middle East and a safe and peaceful country with narrow streets,” he said.

    The NCPC boss said he and the pilgrimage managers were well received in Jordan.

    This, he said showed the acceptance of the Christian Pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Jordan.