NCPC completes 2025 pilgrimage, suspends further trips over Middle East tensions
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, on Tuesday announced the successful completion of the Commission’s 2025 main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, following
- ...Boeing 777-300 deployed for first time in pilgrimage history
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite, on Tuesday announced the successful completion of the Commission’s 2025 main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, following the safe return of the last batch of pilgrims.
Addressing pressmen in Lagos, Adegbite said the final batch of over 500 pilgrims arrived at about 4:30 a.m. on March 3 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, marking the official conclusion of the 2025 exercise.
He said the Commission commenced the 2025 Main Pilgrimage on December 29, 2025, from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and successfully airlifted over 4,000 Nigerians to Israel and Jordan without incident.
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The NCPC boss disclosed that the Commission made history by deploying, for the first time, a Boeing 777-300 aircraft with a 525-seat capacity, the largest aircraft ever used in Nigeria for Christian pilgrimage operations.
“The arrival of the last batch of Christian pilgrims this morning marks the successful completion of the 2025 Main Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan. Over 500 pilgrims who made up the last batch arrived safely and intact without any issue,” he said.
Adegbite expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as “unalloyed and unprecedented support” for both Christian and Muslim pilgrimages.
“Without the support of Mr President, we would not have been able to conduct the five pilgrimages we have undertaken since my appointment barely two years ago,” he said.
He also appreciated First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her support, as well as Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, for their supervisory and oversight roles.
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Adegbite, however, said the Commission had suspended further pilgrimage activities due to the evolving security situation in the Middle East.
He referenced recent military actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency in Israel, which includes a ban on public gatherings.
“In the light of these developments, the Commission wishes to state categorically that the 2025 Main Pilgrimage exercise has come to a successful end. We are closely monitoring developments in Israel as they unfold,” he said.
He added, “The safety and comfort of Nigerian pilgrims remain our top priority and are non-negotiable. Therefore, every pilgrimage exercise of the Commission and that of private pilgrimage operators is hereby put on hold forthwith until the security situation in Israel and, by extension, the Middle East normalises for international travel.”
The NCPC boss thanked stakeholders, including the media, for their cooperation throughout the exercise.
He also called on Nigerians and lovers of peace to pray for stability in the region.
“We urge everyone to pray fervently for the peace of Jerusalem and peace in the Middle East to avert a humanitarian crisis in the region,” Adegbite said.
