By Chinedu Echianu
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has lifted the ban on Christian pilgrimage from Nigeria to Israel, months after suspending the exercise over security concerns arising from the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, announced the decision on Saturday, during a visit to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
The NCPC had suspended pilgrimage to Israel in February following the escalation of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Adegbite, who said he had spent the previous three days in the Holy Land assessing the security situation, declared that Jerusalem was peaceful and safe for pilgrims.
“I promised everyone that I will be here to see what is happening in the Holy Land. I have been here in the last three days. The Holy Land is peaceful. Jerusalem is at peace and will continue to be at peace,” he said.
He subsequently announced: “The ban on Christian Pilgrimage from Nigeria to Israel is hereby lifted from today.”
However, the NCPC boss said the lifting of the ban would only allow Nigerian pilgrims to travel to Israel through the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
He explained that pilgrimage routes involving Jordan would remain suspended because, according to him, the country was “not safe at the moment.”
“We cannot take that risk,” Adegbite said.
The Executive Secretary expressed confidence in the safety of Nigerian pilgrims, noting that all pilgrims who had travelled previously returned safely.
He assured that the 2026 pilgrimage exercise would not be an exception, attributing the safety of pilgrims to divine protection.
“The Lord has always been our shield and buckler,” he said.
Adegbite also offered prayers for peace in Nigeria, including for President Bola Tinubu, the First Lady, members of government and the various geopolitical zones of the country.
He prayed for peace in the North-East, North-Central, North-West, South-South, South-East and South-West.
