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  • NCPC urges pilgrims to approach holy journey with spiritual consciousness

    NCPC urges pilgrims to approach holy journey with spiritual consciousness

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has called on intending Christian pilgrims to embark on the holy pilgrimage with deep spiritual awareness, emphasizing the need to follow in the footsteps of Christ and return with life-changing testimonies of faith.

    The advice was delivered through the NCPC Director of Administration, Mr. Abu Okpanachi, during the airlift of the third batch of pilgrims from Imo and Borno states to Israel and Jordan.

    Describing the pilgrims as privileged to undertake the sacred journey with support from state governors, the Federal Government, and personal sponsorship, Adegbite stressed that the pilgrimage is not intended for leisure or tourism but for spiritual renewal and a deeper walk with Christ.

    He encouraged the pilgrims to seek a genuine encounter with Christ at the holy sites and prayed that the spiritual benefits of the journey would manifest in their lives, culminating in enduring testimonies upon their return.

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    Adegbite also admonished the pilgrims to remain vigilant and supportive of one another, walking in groups and being their brothers’ keepers throughout the pilgrimage, according to a statement by the NCPC Principal Information Officer, Godiya Mathew.

    He also urged them to adhere strictly to instructions, assuring them that NCPC officials are on ground to guide, assist, and support them at every stage of the pilgrimage.

    He prayed for a spiritually rewarding journey, divine protection, and the safe return of all pilgrims to Nigeria. 

  • Nigeria Will Witness Peace, Prosperity in in 2026 — NCPC boss

    Nigeria Will Witness Peace, Prosperity in in 2026 — NCPC boss

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Prof. Stephen Adegbite, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will enjoy peace and prosperity in the coming year.

    In his New Year message, Adegbite declared that God would usher in a new chapter for the country, saying, “The Lord will do a new thing for Nigeria, and everyone will see it and rejoice.”

    He stressed that peace remains the foundation of national development, noting that meaningful progress cannot be achieved in the absence of peace. 

    According to him, peace is the pathway to prosperity, adding that Nigeria is set to move “forward ever, backward never.”

    The NCPC boss also called on Nigerians to continually pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration, urging citizens to support the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the nation’s transformation.

    Adegbite revealed that the first batch of Christian pilgrims has already departed for the Holy Land, where they are offering prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, and prosperity.

    He concluded by extending his goodwill messages to President Tinubu, the Vice President, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and all Nigerians, wishing them a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

  • Delayed 2025 Easter pilgrimage starts September 14, says NCPC

    Delayed 2025 Easter pilgrimage starts September 14, says NCPC

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

    The commission’s Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, announced in a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations, Mr. Celestine Toruka.

    In the statement, Adegbite said, 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 undertaken an inspection of the pilgrims’ aircraft in Antalya, Turkey, where he was received by the Executive Director of Atlasjet, Mr Serkan Yazicioglu.

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

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

    “The commission cannot afford to compromise on its set standards.

    “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

  • NCPC secretary emphasises prayer as essence of pilgrimage

    NCPC secretary emphasises prayer as essence of pilgrimage

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has stressed that prayer is the real essence of pilgrimage.

    He made this assertion during the airlift of the 13th and last batch of intending Christian pilgrims to Israel and Jordan at the Pilgrims Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Represented by Barrister Sonny Ebiyaibo, the director of administration of NCPC, Adegbite urged the intending Christian pilgrims to pray fervently at the various holy sites.

    He stated that prayer was key to a successful pilgrimage, adding that the spiritual content of pilgrimage must be maintained at all times, emphasizing that pilgrimage is not for leisure.

    The NCPC boss enjoined the pilgrims to pray for those in authority in Nigeria and the well-being of the country and its citizens.

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    He also reminded them to see themselves as true representatives of Nigeria in the holy land, irrespective of their state of origin. “You are all ambassadors of Nigeria in the holy land,” he said.

    In his remarks,  the Board member representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Board of NCPC, Amb. Martin Adamu emphasized that the intending Christian pilgrims should use the pilgrimage to renew their faith in God and return spiritually fulfilled.

    While praising Adegite for his effective and visionary leadership, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr Anuma Nlia, who was also an intending pilgrim, commended President Bola Tinubu for his overwhelming support for the NCPC, which has enabled the Commission to successfully airlift pilgrims from the first to the last batch.

    Among the intending Christian pilgrims was the Permanent Secretary, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Daju Kachollom.

  • NCPC celebrates Adegbite’s one year leadership

    NCPC celebrates Adegbite’s one year leadership

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has celebrated the one-year anniversary of Bishop Stephen Adegbite’s leadership as Executive Secretary.

    Adegbite was appointed as the fourth substantive Chief Executive of the Commission on January 4, 2024, and formally assumed office on February 5, 2024.

    He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Vice President Senator Kasim Shettima for the confidence reposed in him.

    He commended the management and staff of the Commission for the unwavering support, emphasising that teamwork is essential for progress. “A tree cannot make a forest,” he said.

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    Adegbite assured that the Commission will continue to prioritise Israel as the ultimate pilgrimage destination and maintain its stance on zero abscondment of pilgrims.

    He emphasised the importance of good conduct among pilgrims, stating that anyone traveling with the Commission must be a good ambassador of Nigeria.

    The celebration featured the unveiling of a special edition of the Nigerian Pilgrim Magazine, goodwill messages from dignitaries, and the cutting of an anniversary cake.

    Prominent guests, including Ambassador Dr. Simon Dolly, Senator Rev Amos Yohanna, and Pastor Timothy Ademola of the Renewed Hope Agenda, attended the event at the NCPC Corporate headquarters in Abuja.

  • NCPC urges christian pilgrims to embrace christ-centered living

    NCPC urges christian pilgrims to embrace christ-centered living

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has emphasized the need for a Christ-centered life during the Jerusalem Pilgrim award ceremony in Nazareth, Israel, for the fourth batch of Christian pilgrims currently in the Holy Land.

    Represented by NCPC Federal Commissioner Rev. Dr. Toma Hamidu, who represents the North East on the commission’s board, Bishop Adegbite encouraged pilgrims to embrace a transformative spiritual journey. 

    He urged them to live in peace and spread positivity, starting from their families and extending to their communities.

    “As Christian pilgrims, you must be different. You must live a lifestyle that projects Christ,” Bishop Adegbite said, citing Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

    The NCPC boss expressed gratitude to the governors of Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba states for sponsoring pilgrims to the holy land at a time like this.  

    Read Also: NCPC achieves zero tolerance on abscondment – Adegbite

    He also appreciated traditional rulers  who are  part of the Fourth batch of Christian pilgrims in the holy land for maintaining decorum during the exercise and thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting Christian pilgrims and the church.

    Other dignitaries, including the Charge D’Affair Embassy of Nigeria Tel-Aviv, Israel, Mr.  Ezekiel Ikwe, and Senator Rev Amos Yohanna, commended Bishop Adegbite’s leadership and President Tinubu’s support for Christian pilgrimage.

    The Jerusalem pilgrim award ceremony marked the high point of the Pilgrimage exercise where every Pilgrim is presented with a certificate of Jerusalem Pilgrim.

  • NCPC achieves zero tolerance on abscondment – Adegbite

    NCPC achieves zero tolerance on abscondment – Adegbite

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adeboye has affirmed that the commission achieved its zero-tolerance stance on abscondment.

    Adegbite made this disclosure on Monday 13, 2024 during the airlift of the third batch of Christian pilgrims at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. 

    He expressed satisfaction that the first two batches of pilgrims returned safely from the holy land without any incidents of abscondment.

    “Pilgrimage is purely a spiritual exercise and not a jamboree or tourism,” Bishop Adegbite emphasized. “I urge the intending pilgrims to pray for Nigeria, their states, and the government while in the holy land.”

    Read Also: Adegbite urges Christian Pilgrims to embrace spirituality over material wealth

    The Chairman of the NCPC Board, Rt. Rev. Prof. Msgnr Cletus Gotan, emphasised the importance of prayer during the pilgrimage. “I urge the intending pilgrims to leverage on the opportunity of the pilgrimage and pray for their well-being, states, and the nation,” he said.

    Federal Commissioner representing North Central in the Board of NCPC, Dr. Simon Dolly, called on the intending pilgrims to develop a positive mentality about the leaders of the nation. “I charge you to pray for the leaders of our dear nation in the holy land,” he said.

    The third batch of intending Christian pilgrims to Israel and Jordan consists mainly of the Plateau contingent, made up of about 300 intending pilgrims.

  • Ongoing carnage in Gaza must stop, Says NCPC boss

    Ongoing carnage in Gaza must stop, Says NCPC boss

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite on Wednesday, May 8, called for a stop to the ongoing “carnage” in Gaza.

    Adegbite said the commission did not support the killing of persons, even as children of God.

    He made the call while answering questions from reporters in his Abuja office.

    According to him, there has always been a war in the nation of Israel since he began pilgrimage exercises in 1999, adding that a lot of persons, including children, have died as a result of the war, and asked authorities to instead go after persons perpetuating the war between Israel and Gaza.

    He said: “When you hear war going on in Israel, going on in Gaza, we don’t go to Gaza. There has never been any time that we went to Gaza, and I have gone on pilgrimage 24 times now. So, by the special grace of God, Nigerians will be safe in Israel, and nothing will happen to anybody. And every time that we started, since 1999 when I started going to Israel, there is no year there is no war. And when you read the scriptures properly in Revelations until Christ comes, there would continue to be war in Israel. Because Israel is surrounded by 14 nations who do not want them, and that war continues every time.

    “But God has his name to be glorified in Israel, and he is protecting them. But that is not to say that what is going on in Gaza is something we will support even as children of God, no. The carnage going on in Gaza should stop, enough of that. A lot of people have died, children are perishing, and innocent people are dying, but the people who are perpetuating the evil have not been properly identified. Those are the people they should go after so that there will be peace at least for some time. But for us as children of God, Nigerians will be safe in Israel.”

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    Adegbite reiterated that the Easter pilgrimage will commence in June, noting however, that pilgrimage exercises will now only take place twice in a year, with the first being the Easter pilgrimage, and the second holding between December and February.

    “We are starting with the Easter pilgrimage that is open now, and we are going to close it up by July, then we have the main pilgrimage that will start from November, and that will also end by February. So, pilgrimage in Nigeria for the Christian community, is no longer every month where ten people will go, twenty people will go, we are going to do it twice, and that is what we were known for in the past, so we are going back to that”, he said.

    The NCPC Executive Secretary also stated that the review of the duration of the pilgrimage to ten days was to return the exercise to the way it was and to ensure that pilgrims had more time in the holy land.

    He added that the Commission will announce the final cost for the trip in the coming week and that the figures will reflect official exchange rates, noting that the Commission did not get concessionary rates.

  • Israel/Hamas war: Christian pilgrims now for Rome, Greece

    Israel/Hamas war: Christian pilgrims now for Rome, Greece

    The Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has made changes in the destinations for Christian pilgrims in the hold lands.

    The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas as well as concern for the safety and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims necessitated the change from Israel and Jordan to the Biblical sites in Rome and Greece.

    NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Reverend Yakubu Pam, announced this yesterday in Abuja.

    Pam said although the commission had arranged for Nigerian Christian pilgrims to embark on the year’s main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan late last year, the outbreak of the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel and the subsequent conflicts that spread beyond the country’s borders necessitated a pause and the new decision to redirect the Christian pilgrimage to Rome (Italy) and Greece instead.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, Reverend Pam emphasised that the safety and security of Nigerian citizens has always been the prime concern of the commission.

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    The NCPC chairman said the Christian pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, earlier scheduled for December 2023, was suspended due to safety concerns.

    He added that it was being replaced with pilgrimage to Rome and holy sites in Greece by the end of this month.

    Pam said it took years before the NCPC under his watch considered visits to remarkable Biblical sites in Jordan, a Muslim country.

    The commission chairman said after a prolonged wait for the Israel/Hamas conflict to end, his teams’ previous researches on Biblical sites in Greece and Rome were properly analysed.

    Pam said he had personally led teams to inspect accommodation facilities and existing biblical sites, among other tasks.

    He said: “I have led NCPC teams to inspect holy sites across Greece and Rome. We have discussed extensively with government and local authorities and security. Accommodation and good hospitality is assured as the very first batch of Nigerian Christian pilgrims visit these places to connect physically with New Testament locations of the gospel and do spiritual exercises, including meditation and prayers for our dear nation.

    “Also, arrangements for smooth flight, good meals and local transportation have been concluded for the 2023/2024 main pilgrimage. State governments, states’ offices of Christian pilgrims welfare boards, churches and individuals have been formally informed about the modalities and the N3 million cost that only requires some augmentation of payment previously made for the Israel/Jordan trip.

    “Unknown to many, Apostles Paul and Peter, as well as the early Christians are why we have Christian sites in Rome. It was …also in Greece they founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe from the mid-40s to the mid-50s AD and began the spread of Christianity across the world,” he said.

  • Tinubu okays new boards for NAHCOM, NCPC

    Tinubu okays new boards for NAHCOM, NCPC

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed new boards and management teams for the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM) and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC).

    The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

    The NAHCOM new board comprises Jalal Arabi (Chairman), Aliu Abdulrazaq (Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, and Finance), former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofi Elegushi (Commissioner, Operations), Prof. Abubakar Yagawal (Commissioner, Planning and Research).

    The zonal representatives are: Dr. Muhammad Umaru Ndagi (Northcentral), Abba Jato Kala (Northeast), Sheikh Muhammad Bin Othman (NorthwWest), Tajudeen Oladejo Abefe (Southwest), Aishat Obi Ahmed (Southeast); Zainab Musa (Southsouth), Prof. Musa Inuwa Fodio (Jama’atul Nasril Islam), Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji (Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA).

    For the NCPC, the President approved Colonel Aloche Adole (retd.) as its Chairman.

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    A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, reads: “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following nine qualified Nigerians to serve on the board of the NCPC.

    “Colonel Aloche Adole (Chairman of the board), Dr. Stephen Adegbite (Secretary), Omowumi Olubunmi Ogunlola (Member, Southwest), Clement Alobu Nweke (Member, Southwast); Chief Prince Weli Wosu (Member, Southsouth), Prof. Joseph Haruna Mamman (Member, Northwest), Dr. Toma Hamidu Ragnjiya (Member, Northeast), Dr. Simon Abu Samson Dolly (Member, Northcentral), Bishop Raphael Benjamin Nwankwo (Representative, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN).

    “The President charges the new appointees to consider their appointments as an opportunity to serve the nation and, as such, wholly commit themselves to this important purpose,” the statement said.