The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Stephen Adegbite, says no Nigerian pilgrim to Israel will abscond during the 2025 pilgrimage exercise.
Mr. Adegbite gave the assurance in a statement on Tuesday after leading a delegation comprising members of the House of Representatives and ground handlers to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.
“I am assuring that the commission will maintain zero abscondment of Nigerian pilgrims in Israel and uphold transparency in its dealings,” Adegbite said.
The NCPC secretary expressed gratitude for the ministry’s cooperation in ensuring a safe and secure environment for Nigerian pilgrims.
He highlighted the unprecedented participation of approximately 100 members of the House of Representatives in the executive pilgrimage.
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He also expressed optimism that the initiative would become a recurring event.
Responding, the Director of the West and Central Africa Division at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Tania Berg-Rafaeli, commended the NCPC boss for his visionary leadership and quality guidance.
She praised Nigerian pilgrims for their good conduct and promised to collaborate with the Nigerian Embassy in Israel and the NCPC to foster robust bilateral relations.
Ms. Berg-Rafaeti also hinted at a possible Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two nations.
