No fewer than 900 pilgrims from six states of the federation will take part in the maiden family pilgrimage billed to depart on August 24, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy-Opara, has announced.
He disclosed this on Monday, at the signing of the air charter agreement on the 2013 pilgrimage between the commission and Atlas Jet Nigeria Ltd. in Abuja.
Justifying the new exercise, Keneddy-Opara said it was aimed at encouraging the reinstatement of the lost Christian values in the family.
According to him, the pilgrims would be airlifted to Israel in four batches by Atlas Jet Nigeria Ltd. had been hired to convey the pilgrims to Israel, adding that necessary logistics have been put in place to ensure their comfort.
To ensure smooth operation, the Executive Secretary said arrangement was being finalized for the intending pilgrims travel documents ahead of their departure on Saturday.
Opara said, “We have sent the list for the visas and we are trusting God that before the end of today, we will tidy up the visa issue with the Israeli authorities and the air carrier is also ready.
“The intending pilgrims are ready, God willing, we are going to flag it off on Saturday. It is a pilot scheme and it’s going to be a little bit less than a thousand this year and I know by next year many families will want to embark on this family pilgrimage”.
