President Bola Tinubu has cautioned Nigerian Christian pilgrims traveling to Israel and Jordan against absconding, emphasizing that “there is no country like Nigeria.”
The President made this remark while flagging off the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission’s 2025 Delayed Easter Pilgrimage exercise at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State.
“You should not contemplate abscondment in your minds because there is no country like Nigeria. While in Nigeria, you have your freedom and you will be recognised in your own little way. But once you stay behind illegally, you have automatically lost all your respect and dignity,”Tinubu said.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, the President urged the pilgrims to show patriotism and dignity throughout their spiritual journey.
The Nigerian leader reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting the spiritual and moral well-being of Nigerians across all religions.
He lauded the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, for his innovative leadership and successful conduct of four pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
The President also commended Imo Gov. Hope Uzodimma for sponsoring 1,000 Christian pilgrims this year, matching his 2023 contribution.
Persecondnews reports that the NCPC, under Bishop Adegbite’s leadership, has implemented stringent measures to curb abscondment, achieving near-zero cases in its recent pilgrimages.
“It will interest you to know that the commission in all its pilgrimages from December last year to date has been able to achieve almost zero abscondment, so be warned,” Tinubu noted.
About 350 intending Christian pilgrims from Imo and Abia States were airlifted for the first time in the history of Christian pilgrimage in Imo State to the Holy Land from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.
The pilgrimage is expected to last 10 days, with the government subsidizing the cost while pilgrims are required to pay N4.5 million each.
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