The Nation Newspaper

Tag: pilgrimage

  • Ambode and pilgrimage funding

    SIR: The fosterage of pilgrimage funding was congruously put in abeyance by Governor Akinwumi Ambode. The governor’s decision, an expedient reflection of the austere demands of governance is a bold prospectus on democratic deliverables.

    This sequestration is gratifying not only for its approbation of the secular nomenclature of Lagos, but also serves as a signature initiative in the change expediency.

    This hopefully is expected to compel a reversionary denouement in other states that are still funding this unenviable overhead.

    Even though Lagos revenue profile makes it buoyant enough to finance pilgrimage and other flights of fancy, the high-priority developmental need of Lagos and the need to cater for a burgeoning population aggravated by leadership failure in other states and the realities of a non oil macroeconomics make prudent use of resources a sine qua non.

     

    • Bukola Ajisola,

    Victoria Island, Lagos.

  • FG receives 2015 Christian Pilgrims report

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer Babachir David Lawal on Wednesday commended the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC) for the innovations introduced by the body to fund its activities and inspire Nigerians who perform the Christian holy pilgrimage in 2015.

    He made the remarks while receiving the 2015 Report of the Commission in his office in Abuja.

    The SGF, in a statement by the Director (Press) in the office of the SGF, Bolaji Adebiyi, assured the body that government will do all within its powers to address the key challenges of the Commission and ensure that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) signed with Israel becomes operational and that debts owed the Commission are recovered.

    He also noted with admiration the small size of the staff nominal roll of the Commission and declared that it will ensure that the recurrent expenditure of the Commission remains reasonable and that more funds are available for capital projects.

    Advising the Commission to ensure that it does not run foul of government policy on the Treasuring Single Account (TSA) despite its commercialization program, he urged the Commission to at all times, remain non-partisan in the discharge of its responsibilities.

    The Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission, Reverend Nicolas Okoh, earlier, told the SGF that four pilgrimages were conducted in 2015, including the Easter, Youth, Family and Main Pilgrimages.

    According to him, during the pilgrimages, there was neither abscondment nor mishaps.

    The Executive Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Opara, in his comments confirmed that for the Main Pilgrimage, pilgrims, apart from visiting Israel, were also taken to Greece and Rome.

    He said youths who performed the pilgrimage were exposed to Skill Acquisition Programme in Agriculture to serve as additional incentive to perform the holy pilgrimage, as well as prepare them for employment.

  • Lagos stops pilgrimage sponsorship

    |Lagos State Government will no longer sponsor pilgrims to Mecca and Jerusalem, Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef said yesterday.

    While addressing some Muslim faithful in Ikeja, AbdulLateef said the falling oil price and the need for the state to invest more on infrastructure and capacity building informed the decision.

    He said the prevailing economic realities had made it difficult to continue to finance Hajj for individual nows that about a million naira is required for such sponsorship.

    “It is better to invest such an amount in public schools or hospitals for the benefit of Lagos residents and Nigerians at large. Individuals intending to visit Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah and those going to Jerusalem should be prepared to bear the economic implications involved, as the state government is resolute about cutting wastages,” he said, adding: “Islam is a religion of capacity. Whoever has the intention of performing Hajj and does not have money to pursue such dream will have the reward of someone that has performed hajj.”

  • Nigeria airlifts 18,909 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Saturday said it had airlifted 18,909 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2015 pilgrimage.

    About 76,000 intending pilgrims from the 36 states and FCT are expected to participate in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

    The Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Alhaji Uba Mana, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the airlift had been hitch free since it began on Aug. 23.

    He said the commission had so far recorded 49 flights of pilgrims mostly from Kaduna, Lagos, Sokoto, Katsina, Oyo, Lagos, Zamfara and Kogi.

    The director also said most of the pilgrims were airlifted direct to Medina, where they were expected to spend seven days before proceeding to Mecca, while others were transported to Jedda.

    “Buses are readily available at Jedda International Airport to transport pilgrims to Medina.

    “Those airlifted to medina on Aug. 23, will move to Mecca on Aug. 29.’’

    Mana said the airlift would be concluded on Sept. 15, adding, “ no pilgrim will be left behind.

  • How winners emerged for Jerusalem pilgrimage, by MTN

    How winners emerged for Jerusalem pilgrimage, by MTN

    The General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge, has said the 20 customers who emerged winners and have been sent to Jerusalem for the holy pilgrimage were selected electronically, adding that the sponsorship was in appreciation of the life-enriching Christian Value Added Services (VAS) they subscribed to.

    Speaking on the electronic selection process of the customers, he explained that subscribers were selected, based on the Christian VAS they subscribed to.

    Represented by the telco’s Senior Manager, Segment, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed, she said: “The selection was based on the daily devotionals, Bible quotes, sermons, songs, prayers, hymns, religious callertunez and other spiritually uplifting and faith enriching content, they subscribed to. The lucky winners were therefore selected through a draw.

    “This is one of the ways we decided to reward our Christian subscribers for their adoption of our Christian VAS. Every subscriber is important to us and we must show appreciation. We will keep going the extra mile to show just how much we care.”

    She admonished the pilgrims to remember Nigeria in their prayers as they embark on this journey, due to the challenges facing the nation at this time in its history.

    Its Chief Marketing Officer, Bayo Adekanmbi explained that the strategic focus for this initiative is to show support to MTN Christian subscribers.

    “We are committed to the total well-being of our customers as we strive to make their lives brighter through our propositions, products and VAS. This is one of such initiatives aimed at uplifting and encouraging our subscribers to get closer to God. Through our bold new digital VAS, we will keep them connected to their Maker on a daily basis.”

    He went further to state that the company will continue to provide exciting innovative initiatives geared at enhancing its customers’ whole new digital experience, while encouraging them to be better in their various fields of human endeavour.

    The pilgrims, who departed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at the weekend, will be spending eight days in the holy land. They were full of excitement and praises for MTN, as regard the rare privilege the company has given them in fulfilling a life-long desire through the all-expense paid trip.

    One of the pilgrims, Bolaji Adeola, from Ondo state said before their departure, “I really feel blessed being among the selected few. Going to Jerusalem is like a dream come true. I have always wished for travelling to the holy land to build my Christian faith and God has used MTN as an instrument to make my dream come true. I am very grateful to MTN for this rare and wonderful opportunity. This journey to Jerusalem will uplift my spiritual life and move me closer to God.”

  • Photo: Jonathan, Oritsejafor, Oyedepo praying for Nigeria

    Photo: Jonathan, Oritsejafor, Oyedepo praying for Nigeria

  • Photos: Hajj operation in Bauchi

    Photos: Hajj operation in Bauchi

  • Photo: Farewell to Saudi

    Photo: Farewell to Saudi

  • Family pilgrimage to Israel postponed

    Family pilgrimage to Israel postponed

    In view of the current escalating crisis in Israel and Gaza, it is now practically impossible to commence the airlift of intending pilgrims to Israel under our family pilgrimage programme.

    Consequently, the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has decided to suspend the flag off of the airlift of intending pilgrims earlier scheduled for  July 29.

    The security and welfare of our pilgrims are very paramount and should not be comprised. However we will commence our airlift as soon as peace returns to Israel and Gaza.

    The commission said it will keep the families involved informed of developments.

  • Pilgrimage: Okoduwa wants leadership rotation

    Pilgrimage: Okoduwa wants leadership rotation

    The founder of Dispensational Gospel Missions Incorporated Worldwide, Archbishop Peter Okoduwa, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse his decision making the leadership of pilgrimage to holy lands a permanent position.

    Okodua who is the Rector of The Community Bible Institute and Seminary in Lagos noted that the development is silently brewing trouble especially among the Christian fold.

    Okodua, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the Holy land in 2005, said in time past, prominent Nigerians were considered for the office without religious affiliations, noting that President Jonathan should not deviate from the norm.

    He said: “The leadership of the pilgrimage to the Holy lands should be rotated. That is how it has been done from the outset. But President Jonathan has now confined it to the leaders of the two religious bodies. In the past, it could be any prominent Nigeria such as the Senate President or even Speaker of the House of Representatives but not necessarily the clergy alone. So the president should follow the precedents.