By Kateng Daniel, Jos
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam and critical stakeholders in the country have concluded arrangement to airlift Christian Pilgrims to the Holy land in May.
Rev. Pam in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations, Pam Ayuba said the decision was reached after an emergency meeting of Conference of States held at the Conference Hall of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, in Abuja.
He noted that majority of the Executive Secretaries and Board Chairmen of States’ Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards, across the federation were in attendance while some linked via zoom.
Rev. Explained that the conference was convened to review the state of readiness of the commission on this year’s possible pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan.
He said the meeting is coming shortly after a recent trip undertaken by the commission to the Kingdom of Jordan on exploration of Holy sites.
The Executive Secretary solicited the support of the stakeholders on how to restore the confidence of Christians and especially those intended Pilgrims who had paid their fares to perform last year’s pilgrimage but couldn’t following the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown worldwide.
He assured that all decisions that have been reached would be communicated to federal government and promised to write an official letter to all State Governors to solicit their support.
“A far reaching decisions and affirmative actions were considered and taken as stakeholders resolved to include for the first time in history the Kingdom of Jordan alongside Israel known to host many old testament biblical sites where Moses led the children of Israel out from Egypt to the Promised Land.”
Chairman of the Conference of States and the Taraba State Chairman of CPWB, Rev. Isaiah Magaji who read the position of the Conference applauded the initiatives of the Executive Secretary and pledged cooperation in this direction.
Rev Magaji noted the importance of Jordan to the Christian faith and noted that it’s an important era during the sojourn of Israelites in Egypt and their subsequent Exodus to Canaan enroute most parts of Jordan like the The River Zarqa believed to link the biblical River Jabbok where
Jacob was said to have crossed on his way to Canaan.
Other critical Sites explored on the visit were Ammon- Madaba where according to history the Byzantine mosaics excavation were seen including the famous Madaba Map showing the Holy Land.
Also, Mount Nebo where Moses stood to see the Promised Land shortly before he died as decreed by God.
There is also the baptismal site where Jesus was baptised at the River Jordan and where He healed the two mad men of evil casting the devil out of them into herd of pigs in Umm Qais.
