The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev Yakubu Pam has blamed the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas for the shift of this year’s pilgrimage to Rome and Greece.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Abuja, Pam explained that the safety and security of Nigerian citizens would always been the prime concern of NCPC

The cleric explained that the Christian pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan scheduled for December 2023 was suspended solely due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas group.

He disclosed that the pilgrimage to Rome and holy sites in Greece would commence by the end of January.

He said he had already led a team of researchers to Biblical sites in Greece and Rome to inspect accommodation facilities and existing biblical sites among other tasks.

“I have led NCPC teams to inspect holy sites across Greece and Rome, we have discussed extensively with government and local authorities and security, accommodation and good hospitality is assured as the very first batch of Nigerian Christian pilgrims visit these places to connect physically with New Testament locations of the gospel and do spiritual exercises including meditation and prayers for our dear nation.

“Also, arrangements for smooth flight, good meals and local transportation have been concluded for the 2023/2024 main pilgrimage; state governments, states’ offices of Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, churches and individuals have been formally informed about the modalities and the N3 million cost that only requires some augmentation of payment previously made for the Israel/Jordan trip.

“Unknown to many, Apostle Paul, Peter, and the early Christians are why we have Christian sites in Rome; it was from there and Greece Paul, Peter, and the early Christians are why we have Christian sites in Rome and also in Greece from where they founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe from the mid-40s to the mid-50s AD, beginning the spread of Christianity across the world,” he explained.

A statement from the NCPC indicates that the new N3 million pilgrimage cost covering return flight ticket, hotel accommodation, three-course meal per day, tours of holy sites in executive luxury buses for six nights and seven days is exclusive of pilgrims traveling allowances while states and private pilgrims are expected to meet up with payments before the last day of January 2024.

According to Reverend Yakubu Pam, the new pilgrimage sites will include places where Apostle Paul, otherwise known as Saint Paul passionately spread of the teachings of Jesus Christ, converting polytheists and idol worshippers through extensive physical journeys and remarkable contributions that remain very significant parts of the New Testament till date and his epistles or letters to early Christian communities have remained very relevant as words of instruction till date.

“St. Paul is often considered to be the most important person after Jesus in the history of Christianity, his epistles (letters) have had enormous influence on Christian theology; he wrote the epistle to Ephesians in a prison in Rome and his journey through Greece included stops at Samothrace and Kavala (Neapoli), where he initiated Christian churches and fostered relationships and he later visited Philippi, Thessaloniki, Veria, Athens, and Korinthos (Corinth), spreading the word of God and facing both acceptance and opposition in these cities, he explained.