The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NCPC

  • Ncpc begins Easter pilgrimage exercise February 25

    The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, has said that 2013 Easter pilgrimage exercise would kick off on February 25.

    Mr. Opara disclosed this in his office recently while addressing newsmen during a press briefing.

    He stated that one of the setbacks witnessed by the commission was the flood incident that prevented 10 states from taking part in the 2012 pilgrimage exercise, adding that arrangement has been put in place to airlift them during the Easter exercise.

    He said about 2,650 pilgrims are expected to take part in the exercise and provision has been made for other self-sponsored pilgrims to join in the exercise.

    The NCPC boss also affirmed that 2012 Christian pilgrimage was a huge success as the commission recorded zero abscondment. He stressed that the success recorded was possible because of the thorough screening procedure the commission introduced.

    He further stated that the aim of the exercise was to enable Christians who go on pilgrimage to encounter God personally which should in turn transform their lives morally and spiritually. In his words: “We want people to go and they will come back spiritually and morally transformed which they will in turn impact on the lives of the people for a better society.”

    The NCPC helmsman equally stressed that pilgrimage is not for leisure where comfort is assured, but a spiritual exercise where pilgrims are given the essentials and are allowed to experience life as Christ did as much as possible. According to him, “our pilgrimage is not tourism. It is not a journey for comfort, but a spiritual journey to remind us of whom we are , where we were coming from and where we are going to.It is a journey of a life time.”

    The Executive Secretary regretted the death of a pilgrim from Adamawa which he said was most unfortunate. He further stated that but for the loss of one pilgrim, the commission would have recorded a zero-mortality rate during the last pilgrimage exercise. However, he assured that the medical team would always do their best to ensure that zero mortality of our pilgrims is maintained and sustained.

    While fielding questions from newsmen in the course of the press conference, Mr Opara spoke on the need for Christians to understand that luxury and comfort are not the basis for pilgrimage exercises, but rather an opportunity to encounter Christ. He was reacting to issues raised regarding a dissatisfied self-sponsored pilgrim during the last exercise. He stated that the issues raised by the complainant were being looked into. He added that looking at the nitty- gritty of pilgrimage package, minimal comfort is all that is needed as the exercise is a spiritual journey and not tourism.

    The NCPC boss assured intending pilgrims that the government of Nigeria and Israel would do all within their powers to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the Easter exercise and would not put them in any situation that would endanger their lives.

    He called on journalists to partner with the Commission in creating awareness on the importance of embarking on pilgrimage exercise and the positive impact on the people.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • NCPC chair charges air carriers on service delivery

    NCPC chair charges air carriers on service delivery

    The Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Archbishop Nicholas .D. Okoh, has charged Air Carriers for the 2012 Christian pilgrimage to ensure they deliver on their services.
     The Chairman gave this charge recently in Abuja at the signing of Air  Carriers Agreement by NCPC and the two selected air  carriers that would airlift Nigerian pilgrims to Israel, Rome and Greece this year.
    The Chairman, who described the signing of the Air Carriers Agreement as a very major process in getting this year’s  pilgrimage actualized, tasked the two selected air carriers on quality of aircraft. He stressed that the competence of operators should not be undermined. The Chairman who was very passionate about the quality of the aircraft  that would airlift Nigerian pilgrims this year in view of the recent untoward happenings in the Nigerian aviation sector.
     “Mr President has said that you should ensure you have  new aircraft. We will not like to manage an aircraft,” he said.
     He further stated that the commission was also interested in the age of the aircraft they   intend to use in flying Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land this year.
    The NCPC Chairman, who is also the Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, further charged the air carriers on quality of service, especially in Nigeria with their  staff.
     His words, “We expect courtesy. We expect that you will not have problem of route mapping”.
    In his own remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mr John Kennedy Opara, stressed that even after the signing of the Air Carrier Agreement and any of the air carriers failed to abide by the terms and conditions of the agreement, that the commission would not hesitate to invalidate the agreement. However, he appealed to the air carriers to ensure they keep to the terms of agreement.
    The NCPC  scribe affirmed that the commission would provide the enabling environment for the air carriers to operate successfully without hitches, while assuring them that NCPC would also provide   the pilgrims for them to airlift.