Nigeria has officially adopted the kingdom of Jordan as one of the permanent destinations for its citizens to visit for pilgrimage.

In a statement issued by the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) on Monday, the executive secretary of the commission, Yakubu Pam, disclosed the development when he visited the Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiques, Nayef Al-Fayez.

Mr Pam stated that the federal government had saddled the commission with the responsibility of taking Christian pilgrims to all holy sites around the world.

“The commission in the past had three pilgrimage destinations which are Israel, Rome and Greece.

“But now Jordan has been officially added to our pilgrimage destinations.

“This is only possible because the Jordanian government has opened its doors to us.

“The support and cooperation accorded us to ensure a hitch-free pilgrimage exercise, especially in the area of visa procurement, is impressive.

“You kept to every promise you made to us and we are grateful,” he said.

The executive secretary added that the new development would further boost the relationship between Nigeria and Jordan in the area of peace, tourism, agriculture and technology.

The Jordanian minister, Mr Al-Fayez, commended the Nigerian government and the NCPC for considering and adding the holy sites in Jordan as viable pilgrimage destinations.

Mr Al-Fayez explained that the greatest value the country had cherished as a nation was the peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims.

“We work together like brothers and we accept each other not minding our religious differences,” he said

He assured that the Jordanian government would do everything possible to ensure pilgrimage to the country was worthwhile.

In his remark, the Nigerian ambassador to Jordan, Faruk Yabo, also thanked the Jordanian authorities for their cooperation and support to the success of the pilot scheme of pilgrimage to the country.

Mr Yabo solicited more cooperation in the area of visa procurement to enable more Nigerians to have the opportunity to visit Jordan so as to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.