The executive secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Archbishop Stephen Adegbite, says Nigerians on pilgrimage will, apart from observing prayers, also be exposed to agricultural methods in Israel.

Mr Adegbite spoke with journalists in Lagos on the commission’s readiness for the forthcoming Christian pilgrimage.

According to him, pilgrimage is a journey with the Lord for spiritual growth, and to further get mileage during the 2024 exercise, the agency has been making plans with Israel for participants to acquire farming techniques alongside the spiritual retreat.

He said that this would aid agriculture development and improve food security in Nigeria.

“The retreat to the Holy land will no longer be a jamboree but will be religiously executed to achieve desired ends for the participants and the nation”.

The boss said that the agency had keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration with the theme for the 2024 pilgrimage tagged: “Renewed Hope and Satisfaction”

He said that from the staff and board members of NCPC to the stakeholders and contractors, there exists a changed mindset toward optimising the goals of the retreat.

According to Mr Adegbite, the agency has visited Israel and Jordan, two of the places intending pilgrims will visit, to make arrangements with the authorities for a seamless retreat.

He, however, stressed that the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims was paramount in the scheme of things.

According to him, it is no longer business as usual but business unusual as arrangements are high on achieving set objectives.

He said there were simple farm methods and technology that the country could benefit from the host country and domesticate back home to aid our agriculture and boost the economy.

“With my visit to Israel and Jordan, our pilgrimage will go beyond spiritual retreat but will tap from those countries some of the economic development projects that made the place successful.

“One cannot dispute the success and contribution of agriculture to the state of Israel. Such economic and social variables will be tapped for domestication in Nigeria.

“I have read the pilgrimage act and will ensure it is upheld in all dealings.

“Plans have been made to cater for the intending pilgrims, and I will not allow anyone cheat on any Nigerian citizen over there and, in like manner, will not allow Nigerian pilgrims to cheat.

“We have started paying calls to state governors to support people making the retreat, especially the downtrodden and brethren from the northern part that cannot afford the journey to enable them to see the glory of God.

“We are awarding contracts to contractors that we know can work for us, with service delivery as uppermost in mind.

“With our relationship with the government, we are sure to get support to cushion the effect of the dollar rate”.

The executive secretary of the NCPC thanked Mr Tinubu for his appointment.

He also commended the wife of Nigeria’s President, Oluremi Tinubu; the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima and the secretary to the government of the federation, George Akume, for their support.

He appealed to wealthy citizens and organisations to support the agency for the journey.

(NAN)