State govt. to partner with pilgrims’ commission on agric development

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Friday said the state government was ready to collaborate with the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) on agricultural development.

Ortom stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said the state government would collaborate and support the Commission within its available resources, especially in the area of agriculture.

He added that "Benue as the food basket of Nigeria stands to benefit when our farmers go to the Holy Land and learn more from the skill acquisition programme offered by the Commission there.

"The states that are agriculturally inclined should encourage their farmers by sending them to Israel on Holy pilgrimage.

"This is because the advantages are enormous; the farmers will benefit spiritually by praying for themselves and the country and will acquire knowledge in different farm techniques.’’

On the issue of lottery to perform the pilgrimage, Ortom said it was a good initiative, as it would give the less privileged the opportunity to travel to Israel with ease.

He then urged private individuals and government officials to support the Commission’s routines to ensure that the challenges of travelling to the Holy Land were tackled.

The governor said there was the need for Christians to stop paying mere lip service and get a deeper spiritual understanding with God.

He noted that "the only way we can surmount the challenges we are facing now is to go back to God for divine intervention.

"Christians must shun all forms of corruption at all levels to move the country’s economy forward.

"The economy has brought a lot of hardship to so many Nigerians.’’

Earlier, Mr Tor Uja, the Executive Secretary, NCPC, had assured the governor that the issue of absconders, which was one of the major challenges, would be tackled during the 2016 pilgrimage.