The Federal Government has appealed to governors of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, jigawa, Yobe and Kano to sponsor Christian pilgrimage from their states, urging them to have a change of heart.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, made this appeal and assured that the government will continue to persuade the state governors, as christian pilgrimage was not tourism but a religious exercise that would benefit the individuals and the state.
He said this during the official submission of 2014 Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission’s Report to him by the Chairman of the Commission, Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh.
The report contained the successful conduct of the 2014 pilgrimage to Isreal, Rome and Greece.
During the exercise, no single mortality was recorded neither was there any case of abscondment, while self sponsorship increased by 50 per cent.
A total of 23 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) took part in the pilgrimage in 2014.
According to Okoh, “We made progress in the year 2014 pilgrimage, we had 50 per cent increase in self sponsorship. With this development we are no longer afraid of government pulling out of sponsoring pilgrimages”, he said.
Okoh who said he was just giving a bird eye’s view of the activities of the commission in 2014, said a Pilgrim Center was also commissioned and made the coordination of the 2014 pilgrimage easy and a success.
He said, “We covered 27 states in the course of our duty. We met governors and stakeholders, that contributed to the increase in the number of those who participated in the 2014 pilgrimage.
“Unlike the previous year, we did not record any mortality, none died in 2014, only minor illness and they were all treated and they all recovered very well.
“We were also able to reconnect with the European Union (EU) for the issuance of schegen visa because of this we were able to move people to Greece and Rome and this was facilitated by the Italian Embassy”.
The Chairman of the Commission list the major challenges that faced their programmes in 2014 to include the non-implementation of the Basa-agreement hence the was no direct flight to the destination and the issue of insecurity.
He also regretted that despite the early notification of states on the calendar of the Pilgrims Commission, some states were not able to pay while those who paid did so late, resulting in their pilgrims not being air lifted, but assured that they will be among the first batch of those that would go on pilgrimage this year.
On some states that are still not sponsoring in their states on pilgrimage, Okoh said the Commission was not indicting them but only making appeal.
“Some states in the north are yet to yield to sponsor pilgrims from their states, six states in the north did not participate in the 2014 pilgrimage”, he said.
The cleric also made case for the Nigerian House in Israel to come on stream. He said though it has been in the pipeline for past six years it was yet to materialise, urging that it will make things easy especially for those on the presidential component of the pilgrimage.
Okoh commended the SGF who has made official communication easy, adding that this contributed to the success of the exercise last year.
While urging the federal government to approve the Commission’s 2015 calendar of activities, Okoh said the commission has introduced youth pilgrimage which will commission in this year.
According to him, ”Youth pilgrimage is an addition to what we already have – easter pilgrimage, family pilgrimage and the general pilgrimage in October. It will encourage young people and they will be exposed to trainings during the period”.
To help the Commission remain solvent and self-sustaining, Okoh said the Commission is going into partnership with the National Lottery Commission to encourage people win slots to participate in any of the pilgrimage component of the Commission.
“We are planning partnership with National Lottery Commission to further enhance our drive in sustenance. As soon as all things are in place the details would be made available to the public, it will help people also win slots to go on pilgrimage”, he said.
Anyim commended the Commission for a job well done, adding that the pilgrimage project has taken a dimension that nobody expected before.
“It has Easter, family, presidential and now the youth component.
Pilgrimage is not sight seeing, tourism or excursion, the presidential pilgrimage alone has created diplomatic access.
“For the youth pilgrimage, “the more young people are involve the more our country will be better.
“I’m happy that the number of self sponsorship has increased by 50 per cent, this is something that couldn’t have been imagine years back.
“Today, we no longer talk of abscondment, this year we had zero mortality, these are all things to be proud of and we congratulate you for this.
“I’m astonished that the BASA agreement has not been activated, but I promise to work with the Executive Secretary of the Commission to get it resolved as soon as possible.
“On the late payment by some states, you will need to do more on sensitization, the states involved should be notified on time as most of them I’m sure were part of the presidential pilgrimage hence did not have time to clear the payment before leaving.
“On the states that did not sponsor Christian pilgrims from their state, there should be a continuous efforts to persuade them from NCPC, government will also continue to its best,” he said.
Anyim also promised to ensure the Nigerian house project in the State of Israel materialises, assuring also that the 2015 calendar will be approved as soon as it gets to his desk.
He said, ”on the partnership with lottery commission you will have no problem with that, we will ensure smooth cooperation.
It will be government’s interest that the self sponsorship increases as that will help government cut down its expenses also.
