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  • NCPC boss condemns killings, destruction of farmlands in Plateau

    NCPC boss condemns killings, destruction of farmlands in Plateau

    Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), has condemned the recent killing and wanton destruction of farmlands in some communities in Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau.
    The Executive Secretary said this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ayuba Pam, on Wednesday, in Jos.
    Pam decried the incessant destruction of crops on farmlands , which he said posed grave danger to food security in the state and country at large.
    He called on the security agencies to take urgent and drastic measures toward ending the menace.
    He also called on the Federal Government to deploy the necessary assistance to the state to nip the circle of violence in the bud.
    “I want to call on the security agencies to intensify efforts toward arresting the perpetrators of these heinous acts.
    “Plateau needs support from both the Federal Government and international donor agencies to deal with incessant crises that had persisted in the state without relief.
    “We need support to stop this carnage. We must try to get it right by fixing any vexation amongst our people. We can not continue this way. It has to stop!
    “Killings of any nature are despised by God. Nobody ever fought His battles; we must shun tribal and religious differences to allow peace a chance,”he urged.
    Pam, who just returned from a pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan, urged residents of the affected communities to be law abiding.
    He also advised the people against reprisal and called on them to cooperate with the security as they strive to fish out the perpetrators.
    “I call on Plateau people to show resilience and not to embark on revenge mission but to allow God to contend with all those contending with us at this trying moment.
    “We should support the government to fight these intruders and round them up for the nation to sleep in peace,” he advised.
  • Why Nigerian pilgrims will go to Jordan – NCPC boss

    Why Nigerian pilgrims will go to Jordan – NCPC boss

    Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), says the ongoing crisis in Gaza is part of reasons why pilgrims from Nigeria will not go to Isreal but the Kingdom of Jordan to perform this year’s pilgrimage.

    Mr Ayuba Pam, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the executive secretary, said this in statement on Saturday in Jos.

    Pam said that the executive secretary offered the explanation on Friday night at during a live NTA programme in Jos.

    The media said that NCPC boss said that the insistence by the Israeli Government that pilgrims must take their own version of COVID-19 vaccines was another reason for the Jordan pilgrimage.

    He said Pam added that Jordan also has over 100 holy sites for pilgrims to visit, insisting it will not change the purpose of the spiritual exercise.

    “Jordan has many holy sites just like Israel. There are more than 100 holy sites all over the world and by the mandate given to the Commission by the 2007 Act of Paliarment that Established it pilgrims can visit all these sites.

    “But the decision to embark on the Jordan pilgrimage was due to Israel’s insistence on Nigeria to accept her version of the COVID-19 vaccination.

    “Also, the war in Gaza which will provide security challenges to pilgrims is another key reason.

    “The purpose of pilgrimage is to invoke the spirit of God upon Nigeria and the people, and not a mere tourism,” Pam said.

    On why pilgrims would be airlifted from Jos and not Abuja, he said that the decision was aimed at reducing the hardships faced by pilgrims in the past.

    “The airlift of Christian pilgrims from Jos to Jordan is going to reduce the hardship being faced by pilgrims in past, who had to travel under severe risks to Abuja.

    “The challenge faced by pilgrims during such operations travelling from far distances to Abuja is exposing them to dangers of insecurity and health challenges,” Pam explained.

    The executive secretary thanked the Plateau Goverment for supporting the commission by ensuring its plan to move pilgrims directly from Jos to Jordan becomes a reality.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first batch of pilgrims would be airlifted on July 24, at the Yakubu Gowon International Airport, Heipang, near Jos.

  • NCPC denies appointing Tonto Dikeh as Peace Ambassador

    NCPC denies appointing Tonto Dikeh as Peace Ambassador

    The Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has reacted to claim made by Tonto Dikeh being appointed as their peace ambassador.

    Dikeh had taken to her instagram page on Friday to make the announcement.

    However in a press statement released by the NCPC, the body stated that her claim is false.

     

    Read the statement below:

    “The Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission NCPC wishes to state in categorical terms that King Tonto Dikeh paid an official courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev Yakubu Pam on 25th February, 2021 at the corporate headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.

     

    “As the founder of Tonto Dikeh Foundation, she expressed her willingness and interest in partnering with the Commission in the area of peace building.

     

    “She equally cashed in on the visit to commend the NCPC boss for his positive and relentless peace initiatives across the country.

     

    “However, we are suddenly inundated with claims from King Tonto Dikeh herself that she has been officially appointed as Ambassador of peace by this great Commission. This claim has gone viral in the media.

     

    “The Commission frowns at this claim which is a clear misrepresentation of what transpired.

     

    “The fact remains that the Executive Secretary of NCPC never appointed King Tonto Dikeh an Ambassador of Peace for NCPC and this was not part of her visit therefore this claim by her is spurious, unfounded and should be discarded and seen by all Nigerians as a figment of her imagination.

     

    “Nevertheless, we appreciate her desire to partner with us in our peace building initiatives and in the area of pilgrimage sponsorship to the Holy Land.”

     

    Retorting via Instagram, Tonto Dikeh maintained she didn’t lie. She said there are “video proofs” that she’s telling the truth but she will rather respect the Commission’s decision.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • NCPC slashes 2019 pilgrimage fare to Israel

    NCPC slashes 2019 pilgrimage fare to Israel

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has reviewed and reduced the cost of 2019 pilgrimage fare to the State of Israel from N750,000 to N715,000.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Rev. Yomi Kasali, revealed this on Friday at the signing of the agreement of the 2019 pilgrimage contract between the commission and the service providers that would participate in the Christian pilgrimage exercise to the Holy Land.

    Kasali explained that the cost of pilgrimage was reduced due to pleas from stakeholders, adding that the country was faced with tough times and so not everyone could afford the initial fee.

    “I want to inform the general public that this year’s 2019 pilgrimage cost has been reduced to N715,000.

    “The fees were reduced because we looked at the plea of the states during the conference of states meeting. We have a responsive leadership, our management and the board sat and reviewed it downward.

    “We thought we should consider tough times are here and Nigerians want to go, if there was anything that we could do to make it lower, we would have done it.

    “So, we thought that was good, we were just responding as a board to the plea of our stakeholders and they are the conference of states so that it can be more affordable, ” he said.

    Kasali called on the air carriers and the ground handlers to do what is expected from them and urged Christians to sign up for the 2019 pilgrimage.

    The Acting Executive Secretary, Mrs Esther Kwaghe, expressed delight on the terms and conditions that would govern this year’s pilgrimage, adding that the legal unit of this commission had finalised everything.

    Kwaghe, however, called on the service providers to ensure effective service delivery, to protect pilgrims and most of all to project the Christian faith and integrity of Nigerians.

    She thanked Buhari for the opportunity given to her to serve in this period of the commission’s transition.

    “I am happy on the terms and condition that will govern this year’s pilgrimage. We are therefore, here to sign this contract in line with due process of book keeping requirements.

    “The legal unit of this commission has finalised and also made copies of the agreement with air carriers and ground handlers.

    “Let me add this to our business partners that the commission wants value for money, wants protection of its pilgrims. The commission wants projection of the Christian faith and the integrity of Nigerians.

    “I urge you ground handlers and air carriers to be faithful in keeping to the terms of the contract, I assure you that we will also keep to our own terms and do our best with all diligence to meet up to the obligations,” Kwaghe said.

    In her remarks, Mrs Josephine Zinder, President, Tailor Made Tours, a ground handling company in Israel, said she was optimistic of a successful pilgrimage.

    Zinder assured the commission that they would make it right in progress and unity, adding that pilgrims would get excellence, and Nigerians were the most loyal believers to Israel.

    “We are all committed to do the best of the best. What we saw today was a full collaboration of NCPC with a opened heart and mind and we also celebrate this day,” she said.

    Mr Serkan Yazicioglu, Executive Director, Atlas Jet, an air carrier company, said that the pilgrims should expect transformation during the exercise and assured that the company would give its maximum cooperation to see that pilgrims arrive safely

  • NCPC boss urges Christians to intensify prayer for nation’s peace, progress

    NCPC boss urges Christians to intensify prayer for nation’s peace, progress

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), on Wednesday, urged Christians to intensify their prayers for the peace and progress of the country

    Uja, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while reacting to the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), declaration of National Day of prayer and fasting programme against the killings across the country.

    The NCPC boss said that prayer remained the key to the resolution of the country’s numerous socio-economic, political and security challenges.

    He called on the Church to continue to pray for God’s intervention and that things would get better for the country in all ramifications.

    “The Church should remain fervent in prayers for the healing of the land, ‘enough is enough’ on killings across the nation.

    “Fervent and effective prayers will make our leaders to do what is right toward peace and the development of the country.

    “I urge everyone in this country to rise and seek for God’s mercy and intervention in every ugly situation in the country,’’ he said.

    According to him, Nigerians must continue to have faith and keep trusting God for a better country.

    “Let everyone continue to keep praying and doing the right things for the country to get better,’’ he said.

    He, however, called on the church to believe in the motto of this nation by preaching Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress at all times for the nation.

    Uja also urged the government to rise up to its responsibilities of protecting lives and property of Nigerians, and prosecute suspects arrested for the killings across the country.

    He also warned Nigerians against making inflammatory statements that can worsen the already tense situation in the country.

    “The responsibility of all persons of faith is so immense, including the obligation to uphold truth and to promote ethical conduct and respect for others.

    “Anyone who wishes to be magisterial to issue statements laden with certainty to their followers must first ensure that what they say, or what they are saying is not only factual, but does not result to violence,” he advised.