NCPC warns intending pilgrims against abscondment

By Moses Mark

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has warned intending pilgrims against abscondment.

Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary of the Commission gave the warning at the flag-off of 2020 main pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan.

The event which held on Saturday at the Yakubu Gowon International Airport Heipang, near Jos, had the theme “Pilgrimage of Peace and Development.”

Pam said pilgrimage is purely a spiritual exercise and not tourism, adding that defaulters would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

He said the commission has put all security measures to check attempts by pilgrims to abscond.

“Pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise, not tourism as many view it.

“We believe those who are embarking on this year’s pilgrimage should know that we shall be engaged in praying not only ourselves for the nation.

“The Commission has put every security measures on ground to check defaulters.

“During the screening, we carefully dig information regarding every intending pilgrim and to the best of our ability, we shall have a zero abscondment as we embark on this Jordan experience,”he said.

Pam explained that choice of Jordan to perform the pilgrimage was because Isreal was still under lockdown due to the advent of Covid-19.

He announced that 2,500 intending pilgrims would be performing the 2020 pilgrimage.

He added that the decision by the Commission to begin airlift of pilgrims from Plateau would address the security challenges faced in the past by pilgrims.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the conduct of 2020 pilgrimage.

On his part, the Executive Secretary, Plateau Christian Pilgrims Board, Rev. Fr. George Gorap described the airlifting of pilgrims from state as “historic”.

According to him, the initiative would be a catalyst for development, adding that it would also boost the economic activities in the state.

He called on the intending pilgrims, particularly those from Plateau to be of good conduct while in the holy land.