The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) will inaugurate the delayed 2025 Easter pilgrimage exercise on September 14 at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo.

Stephen Adegbite, executive secretary of the commission, made this known in a statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Celestine Toruka, on Sunday.

Mr Adegbite said that ahead of the official commencement of the delayed 2025 Easter pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan, the commission has made efforts and taken steps to make it seamless and successful.

Specifically, he said the commission had inspected the pilgrims’ aircraft in Antalya, Turkey, where he was received by the executive director of Atlasjet, Serkan Yazicioglu.

He disclosed that Atlasjet is the approved air carrier by the NCPC for the airlift of Nigerian Christian pilgrims for 2025.

Mr Adegbite also explained that one of the policy thrusts of his administration is adherence to the principle of due process.

“The physical inspection of the pilgrims’ aircraft is necessary to ensure that the aircraft meets the required specifications as codified in the contractual agreement between the commission and the air carrier.

“The commission will stop at nothing to ensure that the philosophy behind its corporate slogan, ‘Service and Satisfaction,’ is implemented to the letter,” he said.

Mr Adegbite acknowledged that the aircraft inspection was satisfactory and expressed optimism that it would be able to airlift the Nigerian pilgrims safely and comfortably.

He thanked Mr Yazicioglu for his expertise and unwavering commitment to serving the Nigerian Christian pilgrims seamlessly.

Also, the executive director of Atlasjet assured the NCPC boss that there would be no service failure in their operation.

He assured the executive secretary that the aircraft would be deployed to Nigeria before September 14, preparatory to the inaugural flight of the airlift of intending pilgrims to Israel and Jordan.

(NAN)