The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) is the apex national regulatory body for Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria. The commission was established by Act No. 32 of May, 2007 empowering it to organise and coordinate the activities and movement of Christians, who perform holy pilgrimage from Nigeria to Israel and other holy sites around the world. The commission is also saddled with the licensing and regulating the activities of Christian pilgrimage operators in Nigeria as well as providing conducive environment for the smooth airlift of Christians to the holy land. NCPC also provides health, financial and security support for Christians who participate in pilgrimage.
The commission commenced operation in 2008 and moved to its corporate headquarters plot 1348 Cadastral Zone, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki 2, Abuja, in 2010. Considering the need to bring pilgrimage nearer to the people at the grassroots, the NCPC management in 2011 resolved to decentralise the administration of pilgrimage by creating zonal offices in the six geo-political zones of the country. Presently, the zonal offices are in Yola for the North-east, Kaduna for the North-west, Enugu for the South-east, Lagos for South-west, Port Harcourt for the South-south and Gwagwalada for the North-central.
Over the years, Christian pilgrimage has gained grounds in Nigeria and generated positive debates on various circles. One fact remains that pilgrimage is a spiritual journey to a sacred place in order to enable the faithful have a deeper understanding of their faith. Every year, Nigerian Christians look forward to having a personal encounter and spiritual revival with the Lord Jesus Christ in Israel because of the underlying life changing experience embedded in it.
Indeed, the NCPC has grown in leaps and bounds since inception from a single pilgrimage destination which is Israel to more pilgrimage destinations including Greece and Rome. The commission also added and developed more pilgrimage programmes in one year from a single general pilgrimage of October-December to three more pilgrimage programmes of Easter, Youth and Family pilgrimages. The number of Christian pilgrimage operators licensed by NCPC has equally increased in recent time from 71 to 113.
The commission has over the years enjoyed maximum support from the federal government, state governments, churches and well-meaning Nigerians, who have helped to advance the cause of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria. One of the takeaways from this is the fact that Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria has become a model for African countries. Little wonder in 2018 a powerful delegation from Ghana Ministry of Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs visited NCPC to understudy the art of pilgrimaging and the Ghanaian Minister, Chief Kofi Damezi, commended the commission for having the best organised Christian pilgrimage body in Africa.
The general pilgrimage exercise remains the major pilgrimage plank of the commission in terms of content and form as it is critical to the survival of the commission as every of its strategic plan and policy is geared towards actualising it. There is no doubt that NCPC has advanced the cause of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria, especially by making pilgrimage to Israel more spiritual and developmental. Today, the spiritual content of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria is no longer in doubt. Programmes such as ‘a Day with Jesus for Pilgrims in Jerusalem’, ‘the publication of Pilgrim’s Handbook’ and ‘the formation of a Counselling and Spirituality Committee’ to guide and provide leadership for pilgrims while on pilgrimage are pointers to the fact that there is a deliberate and conscious effort by the commission to make pilgrimage more spiritual.
In fact, the commission expects every pilgrim who embarked on pilgrimage to come back more spiritually rejuvenated and transformed so that he or she can impact positively on his/her immediate environment. Consequently, the money spent in the sponsorship of pilgrims to the holy land either by the state governments or private sponsorship is justified because Nigerians are prayerful people who believe in the efficacy of prayers. Indeed, to say that NCPC has performed creditable well since its establishment is not an overstatement. The fact is that pilgrimage to Israel, Greece and Rome has taken a new dimension. It is crystal clear that the well-organised and coordinated yearly Christian pilgrimage to Israel by the commission makes it imperative for the federal and state governments to further give necessary assistance and legislative backing to the commission in carrying out its functions.
The commission is full of commendation for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the support and effective supervisory role on the commission. One of the major strategic partners in our pilgrimage operation is Israel which is our main pilgrimage destination. The commission is in constant touch with the Israeli authorities in order to constantly assess development in Israel as it affects the Covid-19 pandemic. NCPC Executive Secretary, Rev. Yakubu Pam, who is the third substantive chief executive of NCPC, assumed office on July 7, 2020, with a six-point agenda to drive his vision and mandate of the commission. They include: fight corruption and eradicate it; improve and lift the image of the commission; embark on reorientation of the mindset of the people; embark on relationship building; seek effective collaboration with the church; and create a peace desk in NCPC.
It is instructive that Rev Pam aside the mandate of piloting the affairs of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria, was also mandated to continue in his pre-disposition of reconciliatory role in his appointment letter by President Muhammadu Buhari. To this effect, he introduced peace building as part of the activities and programmes of the commission. His mediatory role in Southern Kaduna has helped to broker peace in the affected communities. A 3-day peace summit was convoked for the de-escalation of crises in the area and the report was submitted to Governor Nasir El-Rufai for implementation.
As part of the preparation for the 2020 general pilgrimage exercise to Israel, the commission under the leadership of Rev. Pam signed the contract agreement with one air carrier and two ground handlers. Under this new dispensation, the executive secretary reinvigorated the yearly sensitization visit to governors to thank them and canvass for sponsorship and support for Christian pilgrimage. Since assumption of office, the NCPC boss has been able to rekindle hope in the workforce of the commission through improved welfare scheme. Staff of the commission were trained in Lagos for effective Pilgrimage operations. The commission also organised a three-day staff retreat in Jos. Also, about 37 staff of the commission including a substantive director were elevated to their next grade levels.
Just recently, February 8-11, 2021, the NCPC organised the maiden Ministers Conference of Network of Gospel Ministers in Northern Nigeria (NOGMINN), at the Assemblies of God Church, Wholshe, Jos, Plateau state. The NCPC boss used the platform to urge the church to take ownership of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria. He equally tasked the church in the north to help restore peace and unity in northern Nigeria. For Rev. Pam, peace is what Nigeria needs now and Peace is Life.
Toruka is head, media and public relations, NCPC.
