The Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has flagged off the 2024 pilgrimage for 180 Batch A Christian pilgrims in the State.
The pilgrims will spend three days in Jordan before proceeding to Israel for six days.
At an orientation service at the E.Y.N Church, Jimeta-Yola, the Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta urged the pilgrims to be exemplary ambassadors of the state and the nation by conducting themselves with dignity.
She emphasized the importance of the journey as an opportunity to deepen their faith and pray for peace and stability of Nigeria and it’s citizens.
“The pilgrimage is not just a physical journey but a spiritual exercise to strengthen your faith and understanding of the Holy Scriptures. I urge you to avoid any distractive behaviors such as abscondment or involvement in illicit activities,” she said.
The Deputy Governor further encouraged private sponsorships to make the Holy Land experience accessible to more people, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to supporting pilgrimages for both major faiths in the state.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the board, Geoffrey Garba, said it undertook thorough preparations for the pilgrimage, which had been ongoing for over a year.
Mr. Garba acknowledged the federal government’s subsidy for Christian and Muslim pilgrimages, ensuring affordability for participants despite a significant increase in travel costs, from ₦3 million to nearly ₦6 million per pilgrim due to high tariffs.
He also disclosed that measures had been put in place to address issues of abscondment, with intelligence reports identifying individuals with such intentions.
The airlifting of the pilgrims, which began on Friday night, is set to be a transformative journey, with participants urged to pray for the peace, stability, and prosperity of Nigeria.
This year’s pilgrimage, initially planned for 2023, was delayed due to the Gaza conflict.
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