Commission to sponsor Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem for Easter

oge okonkwo

March 2, 2015 5:24 PM

According to Yisa, the number of days to spend in the holy land was reduced from twelve days to eight days to reduce cost of accommodation, feeding and other expenses due to economic meltdown

Reports say advanced stages arrangement has been made by Niger State Pilgrims Commission to airlift its intending Christian pilgrims, who could not go to the holy land in 2014, beginning from 7th March, 2015.

According to Tribune, the chairman and leader of the delegation, Abraham Yisa, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen after a meeting with the desk officers of the 25 local governments of the state at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) office, off David Mark road, Minna, recently, stating that the airlift of Easter pilgrims has been scheduled to start on 5th March, 2015 at the national level.

Yisa noted that the spill-over was not peculiar to Niger state alone, as eight other states in the federation experienced a similar situation, adding that the activities of the 2015 pilgrimage would thereby commence, just as he urged intending pilgrims for 2015 to register with the commission.

He explained that, ordinarily, the activities were for November/December each year but due to the dwindling economy in the nation and the forthcoming rescheduled general elections as well, its postponement has affected the plans not to disenfranchise the intending pilgrims.

According to Yisa, the number of days to spend in the holy land was reduced from twelve days to eight days to reduce cost of accommodation, feeding and other expenses due to economic meltdown and assured that this year would be a comprehensive package as every holy place will be visited to enrich the pilgrims spiritually.

Yisa stated further that this year, there will be family pilgrims packages scheduled for August while pilgrims for youths under the age of 30, who were earlier denied the opportunity would be scheduled for July this year as this will give them the opportunity to build them spiritually and morally to enable them contribute positively to the Nigerian society.

oge okonkwo