10,000 intending Christian pilgrims pay N30bn, airlift begins Dec 22

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) will commence the airlift of 10,000 registered Christians for this year’s holy pilgrimage to Jordan on December 22, 2024.

Each intending pilgrim paid ₦3 million for the 10-day pilgrimage, bringing the total contribution from the Nigerian contingent to ₦30 billion.

The Executive Secretary of NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, revealed this in a text response. He confirmed that the pilgrims would visit significant sites in Jordan and Turkey during the trip.

This December pilgrimage marks the first of 2024 after multiple postponements throughout the year. Initially, the Easter pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, scheduled for March, was canceled. During that period, the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, were proposed to lead the contingent but will not be doing so in December.

Earlier in November, NCPC’s Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations, Celestine Toruka, announced the December 22 commencement date for the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage exercise had faced significant delays and cost adjustments this year. In April, NCPC assured stakeholders of a June start, emphasizing Israel’s safety as a destination. However, by May, the cost for the Easter pilgrimage had increased from ₦3 million to ₦4.8 million, yet no official date was confirmed.

Despite the challenges, Adegbite reiterated in October that the pilgrimage would still hold before the year’s end. “The main pilgrimage typically occurs between November and January, sometimes extending into February,” he said.

With preparations finalized, the NCPC has now confirmed the participation of 10,000 pilgrims, each paying ₦3 million, totaling ₦30 billion. The pilgrims will spend 10 days visiting Jordan and Turkey before returning to Nigeria.