By YANGE IKYAA
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam, has flagged off screening exercise for the first batch of intending Adamawa pilgrims who are bound to travel to Rome.
The NCPC boss performed the official flag off on 7th March, 2022 at the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board in Yola.
Rev Pam in his address appreciated the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, for his dynamic leadership, especially with regard to the way and manner he handles religious matters in the state and his timely intervention in resolving issues of the Intending Adamawa pilgrims to Rome.
He described him as a reconciliator and humble leader. He further described Adamawa State as a unique state where Christians and Muslims are united.
The NCPC Chief Executive explained that NCPC took over the pilgrimage process from the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board because” that is the right thing to do,” adding further that “I am here to put everything together to make sure that things are done properly’.
The clergyman hinted that this would be the first time the Commission would be traveling to Israel and Jordan as a combined pilgrimage destination for the 2021 Main and 2022 Easter pilgrimage, while the other pilgrimage destination would be Rome and Israel.
Pap stressed that the NCPC enabling Act empowers it to coordinate and superintend the activities of Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Sites around the world, hence the Commission collaborates with some relevant Federal Agencies in order to achieve its statutory mandate.
He cautioned the intending pilgrims to shun the tendency of absconding in Rome, as the Commission seriously frowns at it.
His words: “If there is anything we fear about this journey is abscondment.”
The NCPC scribe disclosed that the intending pilgrims of Adamawa State to Rome would be airlifted directly from Yola International Airport.
Earlier in his welcome address,the Chairman of the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop Peter Bartimawus, said that today marks the revalidation of the screening exercise for intending Adamawa pilgrims to Rome. He said it would be the desire of everyone that the screening process by NCPC would take them to the Holy Land.
He appealed to the Intending pilgrims to be law abiding.
The Chairman further commended the Executive Governor of Adamawa State for his kind gesture in sponsoring the Intending pilgrims to Rome.
About 105 intending pilgrims of Adamawa State would be embarking on this first batch pilgrimage trip to Rome.
