The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission has concluded arrangements for the 2021 pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan, and Rome
The 2021 pilgrimage according to a statement signed by Celestine Toruka, Head, Media & Public Relations of the commission will hold in the first quarter of the new year.
Quoting the Executive Secretary of the commission, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam, the statement notes that “the Commission would ensure that the 2021 main pilgrimage exercise would experience a hitch-free operation.”
Pam according to the statement recalled that the 2020 maiden pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan was a huge success despite the fact that the exercise took place at the peak of the global pandemic.
No pilgrim in the 2020 batch absconded unlike what happened in the past.
Because of the huge success recorded in the Jordan pilgrimage, countries like Israel and Turkey according to the statement “are now eager to work with the Commission which is a healthy development for the growth of our Christian Pilgrimage.”
The pilgrimage route for the 2021 pilgrimage which according to the statement, “would start from Israel to Jordan while the Rome package will start from Rome to Israel”.
The statement further informed that the Commission would make every effort to mobilise as many as 10,000 intending pilgrims for the 2021 main pilgrimage.
As part of its preparation for the 2021 pilgrimage, the commission would embark on the State of Readiness visit to Israel with the State pilgrimage Leaders by the end of January 2022.
Covid-19 requirements to be followed
The visit would afford them the opportunity to inspect the Hotels as well as the Holy Sites in Israel.
NCPC according to the statement will ensure that it meets the requirements of international travels in line with the guidelines of the Federal Government and the Israeli authorities on COVID-19 protocols.
The Commission had embarked on the administration of the COVID-19 booster doses for staff who had taken the first and second doses of the vaccine; which would be extended to the intending pilgrims in the states.
Selected members of the Federal Medical team for the 2021 main pilgrimage according to the statement “are ready and would be able to render effective medical care for pilgrims during the pilgrimage.”