Pilgrims airlift from Jos a relief – Dr. Pam

By Moses Mark

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam has said the airlift of Christian Pilgrims from Jos to Jordan was going to reduce the hardship being faced by Pilgrrims from Jos who had to travel under severe risks to Abuja.

Rev. Pam said this while on a Live NTA Jos Network Centre Friday night which was monitored by CAPITAL POST.

He said, the challenge faced by pilgrims during such operations travelling from far distances to Abuja was exposing them to dangers of insecurity and health wise.

On why Jordan not Israel, the ES said Jordan has many holy sites as well as Israel. He said 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 could visit those holy sites.

He said the decision to embark on the Jordan pilgrimage was due to Israel’s insistence on Nigeria to accept her version of the covid19 vaccination; and the war in Gaza which poses security challenges to pilgrims. He said.

He said the purpose of pilgrimage is to invoke the spirit of God upon the land and the people and not a tourist attraction.

He said just as Moses couldn’t enter the Promised land when he viewed it from Mount Nebo in Jordan, the lesson for the pilgrims to draw from this is for them to strife to make heaven and not otherwise.

On direct flight to Jordan, the ES praised the efforts of the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong for mustering the political will to see that pilgrims to the Holy land are airlifted from the Jos airport. He said they will do everything possible to ensure this is sustained onward.

He said, the Commission is not relenting in ensuring an abscondment free pilgrimage for the first time as many things are sorted out in operations like this.