The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) says it will resume pilgrimage to the Holy Land on November 23, after months of suspension due to the war in Israel.

The commission’s executive secretary, Stephen Adegbite, said during a news briefing on Friday in Abuja that pilgrimage activities were suspended in January because the safety of Nigerians was paramount and non-negotiable.

“In January, when the war broke out in Israel, we suspended pilgrimage activities because the safety of Nigerians is paramount.

“Since January to date, we have not embarked on a pilgrimage. We monitor events in the Middle East, and to the glory of God, we now have relative peace,” Mr Adegbite said.

He said the 2026 pilgrimage, the third major pilgrimage under his leadership, would be flagged off in Abuja.

Mr Adegbite attributed the resumption to the support of President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as someone who believed in prayer and was not a religious bigot.

He said the president visited the Holy Land three times before the 2023 general elections and recently returned from the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Adegbote said the support given to the commission three years ago was still being managed to give subsidies to all intending pilgrims, including those sponsored by states, private operators and consular.

According to him, the media is part of the 2026 pilgrimage, and some journalists will travel to Israel to report on the spot that Nigerians are safe.

“I do not negotiate safety. You will recall that on October 7, 2023, I was in Israel when they killed 1,200 Israelis, and by the grace of God I evacuated 254 Nigerians.

“This year, 534 Nigerians were caught up in the crossfire, but to the glory of God, everyone returned unhurt. We had to do emergency evacuation from Jordan to Turkey, Istanbul and from Istanbul back to Nigeria,” he said.

The NCPC boss said the commission had written to all relevant agencies, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the National Security Adviser, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said all intending pilgrims would travel between November 23 and return by December 31, or at most January 9, 2027, because of the general election.

“I will not allow any Nigerian to be outside the country while the election is going on so that Mr President will be returned by the special grace of God,” he said.

He disclosed that the theme for the 2026 pilgrimage is “Pilgrimage of Our Renewed Hope, Continuity of the Covenant”.

Mr Adegbite said pilgrimage is not a jamboree, adding that the commission had changed the dynamics.

He commended the president, the first lady, the vice president and the SGF for their support to the commission.

(NAN)