Executive Secretary,
Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara, yesterday
said that President Goodluck Jonathan is going on this year’s pilgrimage on a
spiritual journey to intercede for Nigerians.
Opara added that the
President would also sign a Bilateral Air Service Arrangement (BASA) on behalf
of Nigeria and the State of Israel.
Opara made this known
at a press briefing on the commission’s preparedness to airlift 30,000 Nigerian
pilgrims to the State of Israel in Abuja.
The NCPC boss added
that BASA will help to bring down the cost of Holy pilgrimage by helping to
reduce flying time between Nigerian and the State of Israel to six hours.
He said “when leaders
remember God, God will remember them. This is why President Jonathan is embarking
on spiritual journey to Israel to seek the face of God which brings about
divine transformation in Nigeria.”
Opara added that NCPC
is working hand in hand with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to ensure
maximum security on the Holy sites for Nigerians pilgrimage.
This year’s pilgrimage
will run from October 19 to 26 with President Jonathan leading the team. “This
year’s pilgrimage will see a lot of personalities who will be on the entourage
of Mr. President.”
He stated that each
batch will take 2,000 pilgrims.
While responding on
self-sponsorship, he said there is a level of improvement due to the
commission’s enlightenment programme to churches and individuals.
He stressed that the
just concluded family pilgrimage are all self-sponsored and people have been
coming to ask when will the next batch take off because of the testimonies they
heard from the pioneers.
He however promised
pilgrims that the commission will do all it can to ensure they have maximum
comfort, while adding that they should trust God in prayers.
Dailytimes
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