FCT minister tasks intending Christian pilgrims to be good ambassadors

The Honourable Minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Bello has tasked intending Christian Pilgrims to Israel to be good ambassadors of the country while in the Holy Land.

He disclosed this at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while bidding farewell to FCT and Kogi Pilgrims shortly before their departure to Israel for this year’s Christian pilgrimage.

He advised that as the pilgrims set out on a journey of a lifetime, they should conduct themselves in a manner that is honourable and deserving as Christians.

He stressed that he served for nine years as the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) before his present appointment, so he has “soft spot for pilgrims”.

Mallam Bello further explained that the Holy Land is very holy to all the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

He assured the intending pilgrims that the country expects that by the time they come back from Holy pilgrimage they should be better citizens. He urged them to pray for themselves, our leaders and the nation.

In his remark, Senator Philip Aduda, the Senator representing FCT thanked the FCT Minister for his support for the intending pilgrims from FCT. He called for a collective support to rebuild Nigeria by all and sundry.

He equally urged the pilgrims to pray for themselves and not to abscond.

Also, in his remark, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika admonished the intending pilgrims to do things to please Jesus Christ while on pilgrimage.

His words “as we journey to Israel, we should do things to please Him”. According to him, “I believe that Jesus Christ will come back, so we should go there to do things that will please God”.

In his charge, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja affirmed that Nigeria is experiencing a lifting up and not a casting down. He explained that the present economic recession would soon be over. He described the intending pilgrims as “great Nigerian Patriots”.

Rev. Uja affirmed that “Nigeria is a great nation and that the greatest pastors around the world are from Nigeria”. He added that of all the places in the world Nigeria offers greater responsibilities and opportunities.

Rev Uja commended the FCT Minister for offering free accommodation to NCPC at the threshold of the commission’s journey of life.

He urged the Hon. Minister to help the commission in acquiring a 1000-hectares of land in FCT which would serve as a camp and conference centre for pilgrims.

It would be recalled that NCPC flagged off this year’s main pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece on November 24, in Yola, Adamawa State and had also airlifted pilgrims from the South West through the Murtala International Airport, Lagos on November 27. The 29th airlift of intending pilgrims from FCT and Kogi was the third flight since the commencement of this year’s pilgrimage.