By Evelyn Okakwu
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian pilgrim’s Commission, (NCPC) has stated that the 2014 pilgrimage exercise, which is scheduled to kick start on October 18, will focus on praying for the unity of Nigeria, during and after the forth coming election in 2015.
He made the statement at a press briefing to discuss the plans of the commission on this year’s pilgrimage exercise, in Abuja. The Executive Secretary who said the pilgrims will fly directly from
Nigeria to Israel, as a result of the implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, (BASA) added that the second edition of a day with Jesus for Nigerians will be targeted at praying for continued unity of the country during the forth coming election year.
“We are in the eve of our election year, and as such we will ensure that the second edition of a day with Jesus focuses on praying for Nigeria’s unity and for continued development.”
He added that this year’s pilgrimage will also witness a greater involvement of Nigerians as ground handlers in the local content package organized by the commission, to encourage Nigerian investors in the sector. “Out of the five (5) ground handlers’ about three of them are Nigerians, unlike the case before the signing of the BASA agreement when all of them will be non-Nigerians. Opara added that all plans have been put in place to ensure the safety
of Nigerians in the forth coming pilgrimage, stressing that the trip to Mount Sinai will take place if things remain the same. “We have already put things in place to ensure that the lives of Pilgrims are safe, during the exercise and we are talking with the authorities in Egypt to ensure that the trip to Mount Sinai takes place if all things remain equal”.
