The executive secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, has called on members of the Nigeria/Israel Parliamentary friendship Group of the House of Representatives to partner with the Commission by advocating for its well-being and that of the Christian pilgrimage activities in the country.
Pam made the call Thursday in Abuja during a courtesy call by members of the group led by the chairman of the Committee, Kobis Thimnu.
This was contained in après statement issued by the Commission’s head of media and public relations, Celestine Toruka.
Pam noted that the setting up of the new standing Committee by the House of Representatives would “certainly help to strengthen not only NCPC, but Israel and Christians globally.”
“More good things will come through your Committee. Your coming today is to think with us and proffer solutions on how to move the Commission forward. I am glad that we have this group in the House of Representatives,” he said.
Speaking further, the NCPC boss informed the Committee about some of the challenges the Commission had been facing since his assumption of office in 2020.
He, however, said he had been able to successfully execute six pilgrimages within three years he had been in the saddle “in spite of these challenges.”
He thanked President Bola Ahmed TInubu for his support for the Commission so far, especially during the Commission’s 2023 Easter pilgrimage completion exercise.
Earlier, the chairman of the group, Thimnu, said they were at the NCPC to introduce themselves and familiarise with the workings of the Commission.
Thimnu commended the NCPC boss for the swift action he took when the war between Israel and Hamas group broke out on October7, 2023.
The chairman said the rationale for their visit was to formally convey the establishment of the Nigerian /Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group Committee as a standing committee in the National Assembly.
He said the Committee would serve as a bridge between Israeli Parliament and their Nigerian counterpart, adding that they would help in the promotion of legislative action by the Israeli Parliament to curb abscondment of pilgrims during pilgrimages.
He said the Committee looked forward to having “a mutually beneficial relationship with the Commission.”
