Nasarawa state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (NCPWB) has organised a one-day orientation exercise for 257 intending pilgrims from the state to the Kingdom of Jordan.
The executive secretary, NCPWB, Mr. David Ayewa, told newsmen after the orientation exercise held in Lafia on Friday that it was an essential exercise aimed at sensitising pilgrims on the appropriate behavior and actions during the Holy exercise.
“The importance of this orientation exercise is for us to educate them about the country they are going to, their security; the country’s norms and what they are expected to do on the pilgrimage.
“We also sensitise them on the sites they will visit and worship and even the meals they will eat. In fact, we spoke about every detail that will make the spiritual exercise a hitch-free and successful one,” he said.
He said the choice of Jordan was due to the refusal of Israel to allow pilgrimage in its territory due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Jordan, however, accepted the exercise because it appears they have a way of controlling it. That is why this particular spiritual exercise is taking place in Jordan.”
Also speaking, the Team Leader of the Nasarawa state Christian Pilgrimage delegation, Rev. Amini Zeigi, said intending pilgrims should not be discouraged as there were pilgrimage sites in Jordan to also explore.
He said as a team leader, he would do his best to make sure all pilgrims under his watch behaved properly throughout the exercise to achieve the purpose for the spiritual exercise.
Mrs. Mercy Musa, an intending pilgrim, said the orientation had opened their eyes to the right things to do, to perform a hitch-free pilgrimage exercise.
He said, “We are not disappointed not going to Israel. I think it is God’s plan to see a different place. In fact, we are lucky to be the first set to visit Jordan.”
