'5 northern states not planning to sponsor annual Christian pilgrimage'

oge okonkwo

January 19, 2015 4:20 PM

Rev. Okoh - the Primate of the Anglican Communion, made the statement while submitting the 2014 pilgrimage report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim

Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC), Nicholas Okoh, has revealed that five northern states are yet to respond to the calls for sponsorship of Christians on pilgrimage.

Rev. Okoh - Primate of the Anglican Communion, made the statement while submitting the 2014 pilgrimage report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim.

According to him the states are - Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Kano.

“We are not castigating any state. We are just making an appeal,” he stated.

Okoh disclosed that the commission last year achieved 50 percent self-sponsorship and it is no longer afraid of government withholding sponsorship.

The clergy stated that zero mortality was also recorded last year as nobody died during the pilgrimage except minor ailments.

He noted that the commission has challenges including non-activation of the BASA agreement that will ensure direct flight between Nigeria and Israel.

On his part, the SGF urged the commission to continue persuading the states towards sponsoring Christians on pilgrimage.

oge okonkwo