The executive secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has assured Nigerians that Israel “is peaceful and safe” for pilgrims.
He gave the assurance during a meeting at the Nigerian Embassy in Tel-Aviv recently as part of a pre-visit and retreat with stakeholders, according to a press statement issued Wednesday by the Commission’s head of media and public relations, Celestine Toruka.
The statement indicated that after spending five days in Israel without any incidents, the NCPC boss said, “There is no problem in Israel, no restrictions. Israel is our pilgrimage destination. If Israel was not peaceful, I wouldn’t have led the delegation to the country.”
It added that Bishop Adegbite commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting him with the role and for his one year in office, along with the vice-president, First Lady, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The statement indicated further that similarly, the Nigerian Ambassador to Israel, Mrs. Agatha Afoekelu, gave the assurance that Israel “is safe” and commended President Tinubu for appointing “a proactive leader like this NCPC executive secretary.”
“Mrs. Afoekelu encouraged the federal government to leverage Israeli agricultural technology to equip youths with skills and knowledge, offering scholarships,” the statement read in part.
It added that the “NCPC chairman, Msg. Cletus Gotan, board members, state pilgrimage leaders, and private Christian pilgrimage operators attended the pre-visit and retreat from May 31 to June 6 to chart a new course for the Commission.”
