The executive secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, John Kennedy Opara, has disclosed in Abuja that the Commission had commenced the fourth batch of its ongoing pilgrimage operations to Israel, Rome and Greece.
According to the NCPC boss, the Commission, formally, commenced the October-December pilgrimage on 17th October, 2015 and successfully concluded the third batch of its operations on 24th November, 2015 and on the same day commenced the fourth batch of airlift of pilgrims to the Holy Land.
He also informed that the committees on Foreign Affairs of both Senate and House of Representatives would be travelling next week to Israel to carry out their oversight functions.
The NCPC helmsman further stressed that the skills acquisition programme of the Commission was on course as the programme would expose the pilgrims in the area of exportable agriculture.
He described Israel as a “nation blessed in human capital” and as such would want the pilgrims to tap the blessings from Israel.
Opara further stated that the focus of the Commission in this year’s pilgrimage exercise was on self sponsorship.
He stressed that the central thrust of the Commission was to use pilgrimage as a tool for moral transformation and spiritual rebirth, disclosing that the inaugural flight for intending pilgrims to Rome and Greece were scheduled for November 24, 2015.
He was hopeful that the pilgrimage this year would be one of the best ever organised by the Commission.
On the issue of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the State of Israel, the NCPC boss explained that the federal government was determined to ensure its activation as soon as possible.
He posited that with the activation of the agreement signed in 2013, it would lessen the problem of having to travel for long hours to Israel and it would also boost the economy of both nations.
