The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev Yakubu Pam recently undertook an inspection tour of facilities at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos preparatory for the 2020 General Pilgrimage exercise to Israel.

The NCPC Chief Executive was conducted round the facilities at the airport by the Airport Manager,Mr Ayinla Olufemi
Rev Pam inspected facilities at the departure hall which still need some finishing touches such as furniture and lighting system

The NCPC helmsman and his entourage also inspected the airport clinic where the intending Pilgrims will undergo medical check up.before boarding. He was also shown. the conveyor belt where the passengers luggages will pass through which had been installed and ready to commence work as soon as it is powered.

At the end of the inspection tour, the No 1Christian Pilgrim Officer of the Federation stated succinctly, ” I am quite satisfied with what my eyes have seen” . He added,” we will no longer travel to Abuja to fly, we will take our Pilgrims direct to Israel from this Airport”, he said.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the State , Prof Danladi Auta said that the Executive Governor of Plateau State, RT.Hon. Simon Lalong had been driving the process of up grading the airport and had done a lot of follow up in that regard..He assured that the Government of Plateau State would do its best to ensure that the challenges confronting the airport would be addressed despite the paucity of funds to enable intending Pilgrims to be airlifted from the airport.
He disclosed that the State government would do everything possible to ensure that there would be international flights from the Airport in not too distant time.
Also speaking, the Airport Manager, Mr Ayinla Olufemi revealed that there were few challenges at the airport but was delighted that the state government had promised to address them such as the provision of scanning machines.
It would be recalled that the Commission commenced the inspection of designated Airports across the country for this year’s Pilgrimage in early November,; the Yakubu Gowon Airport is the ninth to be inspected so far by the Commission.
Dignitaries at the inspection tour with the Executive Secretary included the NCPC Directors of Finance and Accounts, Mr Joseph Oche, Sir Peter Okuleigbe, NCPC Director of Administration ,Mr Barnabas Ali , Director Operations NCPC Rev Amos Yohanna, the plateau State Commissioner of Housing, Barr Bitrus Zulfa, the Transport Commissioner Mohammed Abubakar and Christian leaders.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev Yakubu Pam has formally flagged off this year’s screening exercise for intending Pilgrims to Isreal, Rome and Greece in Asaba Delta State recently.
The Executive Secretary while flagging off the screening exercise in Asaba stated that Delta State would be the No 1 state in the country to had commenced this year’s screening exercise.
His words, ” It is Delta State that we are launching the first screening exercise for intending Pilgrims to Isreal, Rome and Greece.
He further reiterated that he was declaring the screening exercise in the entire country open.According to him,” by declaring the screening exercise open, Delta will remain No 1 in everything,” he said.
The NCPC boss commended the Executive Governor of Delta State,Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for having the heart for the kingdom.
He admonished the intending Pilgrims to ensure they pray for the Governor,Mr President and for the well being of Nigeria while in the Holy Land
He informed that the screening exercise would be very strict in view of the fact that some intending Pilgrims do not go to Isreal with the intention to pray .In his words” it is unfortunate that so many Christians have taken it like a business trip and a means to abscond”
He stressed that the Commission frowns at abscondment hence it is collaborating with relevant security agencies to make sure that there would be zero abscondment this year.
He further averred that the Commission had introduced Very strong measures that would make gurantors to be held liable if a pilgrim absconds
He decried a situation whereby few individuals had destroyed the image of the country and so Nigeria,s image had been severely bartered
Rev Pam told the intending Pilgrims that Pilgrimage is meant for them to have a retreat with God.He added,”the main purpose is having an encounter with God”
He further advised the intending Pilgrims to ensure that they are physically sound,fit and strong to embark on the spiritual journey.He cautioned them to ensure that they disclose accurate vital information on their health status in their own interest.
He explained that with the global COVID 19 pandemic, is no longer a time to joke with our health situation.He noted that this year’s Pilgrimage would be quite different because of COVID 19.
The NCPC boss further hinted that the Commission would organise a three day orientation programme for intending Pilgrims few days before their departure to Israel . He posited that this would enable the Commission to explain in details the real essence of the spiritual journey and the expectations.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Delta State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Most Rev. Cyril Odutemu thanked the NCPC boss for using Asaba to to flag off this year’s screening exercise.He affirmed that ” because God is happy with the NCPC boss, men are as well happy with him”. He added,”the entire Deltans are happy with you,”
He commended the NCPC helmsman for his reconcilatory interventions across the country.
The Chairman assured the NCPC boss that Delta State Pilgrims would record zero abscondment this year.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev Yakubu Pam, has said that the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos has always been the foremost airport in Nigeria. He disclosed this recently in Lagos during a meeting and inspection of facilities at the Lagos Airport with the Regional General Manager South West  Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Airport Manager of Murtala Mohammed Airport, Mrs Shin –Aba .

The NCPC boss who spoke through the Director of Operations NCPC, Rev.Amos Yohanna stated that the meeting was necessitated in view of the fact that the Commission would soon commence the 2020 General Pilgrimage exercise in December,hence the need to meet with the airport officials in order to have a seamless operations this year.

He thanked the Airport officials for the cooperation and synergy the Commission had enjoyed over the years.

The NCPC boss affirmed that the Lagos Airport plays  very critical role in Christian pilgrimage operations as Pilgrims from the South West including Kwara and Edo are usually airlifted to Israel from the Lagos Airport.

He further commended the management of the Lagos Airport for the cordial working relationship existing between the two Agencies.

Rev.Pam reiterated that this year’s Pilgrimage operations would be peculiar because of the challenges posed by the global COVID 19 pandemic..

He explained further that because of COVID 19 pandemic, so many restrictions and protocols had been introduced globally to check the rate of infection which according to him” is for the good of the people”

He expatiated that one of the reasons for the meeting was to know the restrictions so as to guide the Pilgrims and to facilitate this year’s operations.

He further averred that the Commission had been monitoring closely up dates with the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 as well as reports from the Israeli authorities in order to keep abreast with the COVID 19 situation in Nigeria and Israel.

The NCPC helmsman further told the Airport Manager that the Commission would need the assistance of the Airport officials in order to know the rules and protocols that would guide the Commission,s operations at the airport this year.

He equally requested for the special assistance of the Airport management so that the Commission,s staff could be allowed to come into the airport to guide the Pilgrims considering the fact that most of them would be traveling out of the country   for the first time.

Earlier, the Regional General Manager FAAN South West who is also the Manager of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Mrs Shin –Aba affirmed that over the years the Lagos Airport had been having good working relationship with NCPC.In her words” We are one family, Lagos Airport is here to serve the nation, Nigerians and any other public”.

She stressed that it is their duty to have a seamless operation which is in tandem with the core values of FAAN —-Safety, Security and Comfort

The Airport Manager also solicited for the continued cooperation and collaboration between NCPC and FAAN.She pledged for more cooperation with the officials of the Commission.

She also stressed the need for the intending Pilgrims to be properly sensitised by the Commission on COVID 19: protocols before  getting into the airport premises.

The meeting was the first in the series with the airport officials. About eight designated international airports will be used by the Commission for the airlift of intending Pilgrims to  Isreal,Rome and Greece this year.

The Lagos Airport meeting was also graced by the Director of Administration of NCPC, Mr Barnabas Ali, Head Media NCPC, Mr Celestine Toruka as well as the Head of Security NCPC Mr Allabamu Hosea.