*Pilgrims Expected Back Before 2027 Elections
*Executive Secretary Adegbite Praises Tinubu, First Lady, Others
*’I Do Not Negotiate Safety. You Will Recall That On Oct 7, 2023, I Was In Israel When They Killed 1,200 Israelis And By The Grace Of God I Evacuated 254 Nigerians’
*’Since January To Date, We Have Not Embarked On Pilgrimage. We Monitor Events In The Middle-East And, To The Glory Of God, We Now Have Relative Peace’
By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
After months of suspension due to war involving Israel and turmoil in the Middle East, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) will on Monday, 23 November, 2026 resume pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
To guard against possible disenfranchisement of the intending pilgrims, given that the 2027 general elections will be just around the corner, NCPC said they are scheduled to return by 31 December, or,at the latest, 9 January 2027, so as to participate in the elections which kick off on 16 January with Presidential and National Assembly polls.
Executive Secretary of NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, disclosed these today (Friday) in Abuja at a press conference marking the commencement of preparations for the pilgrimage, whose theme is ‘Pilgrimage of Our Renewed Hope, Continuity of the Covenant’.
The Israel war under reference is the military action against Hamas. There is also the US-Israel war against Iran, which ripple effects impacted the Middle East, halting several aspects of tourism in the process.
Stressing the vital importance placed on the lives of Nigerian pilgrims in arrangements during any pilgrimage, Bishop Adegbite said: “In January, when the war broke out in Israel, we suspended pilgrimage activities because the safety of Nigerians is paramount.
“Since January to date, we have not embarked on pilgrimage. We monitor events in the Middle-East and to the glory of God, we now have relative peace.
“I do not negotiate safety. You will recall that on Oct. 7, 2023, I was in Israel when they killed 1,200 Israelis and by the grace of God I evacuated 254 Nigerians.
“This year, 534 Nigerians were caught up in the crossfire, but to the glory of God, everyone returned unhurt.
“We had to do emergency evacuation from Jordan to Turkey, Istanbul and from Istanbul back to Nigeria.”
Adegbite hailed President Bola Tinubu, First Lady Remi Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, for their support to the Commission.
Dwelling on plans for this year’s pilgrimage, the third major one since he became Executive Secretary, Bishop Adegbite disclosed that the exercise will be flagged off in Abuja.
Linking the pilgrimage resumption to President Tinubu’s support, he praised the President, describing him as someone who believes in prayer. Adegbite said the President is not a religious bigot.
He recalled that Tinubu had visited the Holy Land thrice before the 2023 general elections, pointing out that the President returned from lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia only recently.
The NCPC boss said some support handed the Commission three years ago was still being utilized as subsidy to intending pilgrims, including those sponsored by states, private operators and consular ones.
Lauding the role of the press in accurate information dissemination, Bishop Adegbite revealed that some journalists will travel to Israel for live reports to show that Nigerians are safe.
He added that pilgrims will return to the country before the general elections, and expressed high hopes that Tinubu will be re-elected.
“I will not allow any Nigerian to be outside the country while election is going on so that Mr President will be returned by the special grace of God,” he said.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Bishop Adegbite addressing newsmen.
