By Celestine Toruka
The 2017 October – December main pilgrimage to Israel, Greece and Rome will soon commence. The preparation to have a successful pilgrimage this year has just begun with the screening of intending pilgrims by the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) in various states, including FCT. The commission has also kicked off in earnest the mobilization of intending pilgrims and intensified its sensitization drive to states and strategic stakeholders.
The arrow head of the sensitization drive is NCPC Executive Secretary, Rev. Uja Tor Uja, who led his team to Ondo, Ekiti, Owo, Lagos and Canaan Land in Ota, Ogun state where he met with the General Overseer of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedipo, and other key church leaders. The sensitization is ongoing and will be extended to other states of the federation.
On September 25-29, 2017, the NCPC boss engaged stakeholders and pilgrimage leaders in Israel including the new Nigerian ambassador to Israel, Mr. Enoch Duchi, and the embassy staff, in preparation for the October – December main pilgrimage. The engagement was useful as it has prepared ground for a hitch-free pilgrimage this year.
On the evening of his arrival on September 26, without wasting much time, Uja scheduled a crucial meeting with two ground handlers in Jerusalem which was centred on the planning, execution of Christian pilgrimage in Israel, the prospects and challenges of this year’s pilgrimage.
A lot of issues were raised by all the parties which included the Director, General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Sonnie Aruya. Critical issues such as the inclusion of agricultural content in the pilgrimage programme to make it more beneficial to the people and the country were x-rayed. Also, the concept of Green House Agriculture is to be explored and made practicable in Nigeria for the benefit of the people.
Rev. Uja hinted on the planned agricultural conference by the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria in partnership with the Nigerian Government. He said the conference is needed at a time like this and should be encouraged.
The issue of increasing the Nigerian meals for pilgrims was also discussed. Currently, Nigerian pilgrims only have two meals during pilgrimage and the NCPC boss felt that is not enough and would want the Ground Handlers to consider the offer even though they claimed it would be too expensive to increase it beyond two meals.
On the youth pilgrimage programme, the NCPC boss stated that it was moved to next year so that it could be more impactful. In the same vein, the family pilgrimage programme was discussed and the Ground Handlers favoured having it during Christmas period.
Rev. Uja disclosed that in 2018 there would be minimum of two days prayer sessions for pilgrims in Israel hence he called on churches and groups to sponsor pilgrims.
He equally hinted the ground handlers that the commission would commence the traditional rulers pilgrimage next year and that the sensitization and mobilization of the traditional rulers is already ongoing, Aside, the need to reduce the cost of ground handling was discussed.
The meeting of ES with the Nigerian ambassador to Israel was strategic to the overall success of the pilgrimage exercise. Indeed, there was need for the NCPC boss to brief the envoy, considering the fact that he has just assumed office.
The NCPC boss told the ambassador that the commission does not have direct link with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather the visas are mostly group visas. He said the commission deals with the ground handlers who forward the visa list to the Israeli Interior Ministry for visa issuance and the ground handlers also profile the visa list before handing them over to the Israeli Interior Ministry. He explained that it takes about 10 days to get the group visas ready from the Israeli Interior Ministry. In this regard, Rev. Uja requested for an improved handling of Nigerian pilgrims.
The ambassador promised to assist in facilitating visa issuance for pilgrims. He affirmed that the embassy would support the agricultural programme of the commission.
The issue of deportation was discussed by the delegation. In the words of Rev. Uja, “the incidence of deportation of pilgrims happens severally without explanations and it gives us very ugly picture as a commission.” The envoy promised to intervene in the matter, adding that it would be out of place for the Israeli authorities to turn pilgrims back having issued them visas.
The ambassador needed a brief on the issue of absconders during pilgrimage whether it has reduced. Consequently, the NCPC boss explained that the issue of pilgrims absconding during pilgrimage can only be reduced with the cooperation of the Israeli authorities.
Uja inspected the NCPC medical clinic at the Embassy of Nigeria in Tel-Aviv. The medical team was led by a member of the NCPC Federal Medical Committee (FMC), Dr. Mrs. Ada Olabode. Uja explained that the essence of the inspection was to take stock of the drugs and equipment in the clinic.
The ambassador stated that improvement in the pilgrimage programmes would only be made next year since all programmes for this year had been concluded. He wished NCPC the best of October–December pilgrimage but not without these comforting words: “We are here for you, let us know your plans as we are partners in progress”.
It is important to affirm that Rev. Uja’s strategic meeting with critical stakeholders in Israel was timely and worthwhile. If for anything, it has set the tone for a successful October-December Pilgrimage. It needs be stressed that the meetings were engaging enough to yield the required results and above all, the meetings evoked a sense of belonging for stakeholders who promised to support NCPC in its drive to improve Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.
As we all look forward to a hitch free October – December Pilgrimage this year, all hands must be on deck to complement the untiring efforts of the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev Uja Tor Uja and other key pilgrimage leaders.
Toruka writes from Abuja
