Enugu airlifts 300 Christian Pilgrims to Jordan

Three hundred Christian Pilgrims were, on Sunday night, airlifted from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to Kingdom of Jordan for the year 2021 pilgrimage.
The Pilgrims were from Lagos, Benue and Enugu states.
Addressing the Pilgrims at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu before their departure, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission(NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, urged them to be good ambassadors of the country. He also urged them not to abscond from Jordan because it’s not rosy abroad.
“Despite our problems at home, it’s better you stay at home. Don’t make that mistake to escape . So, make sure you are coming back here, ” Pam said.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the commission had taken appropriate steps to contain the spread of the COVID-19 infection.
He urged the pilgrims to stay safe and observe the COVID-19 protocols to avoid contracting it.
“‘Stay safe, don’t turn it into a soared stay”, Pam admonished.
Pam commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his administration’s infrastructural development, commitment and support to the Pilgrims Commission, especially for sponsoring some of the pilgrims.
He disclosed that Enugu Government was the only state in the South-East that sponsored its citizens to the Kingdom of Jordan.
“Enugu State Governor must be praised for sponsoring the citizens, especially the church”, Pam said.
He urged Southern governors to emulate Ugwuanyi.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the pilgrims would spend eight days in the Kingdom of Jordan and would visit Holy sites. There are 77 sites in Jordan. River Jordan where Jesus was baptized, among others.
He urged the Pilgrims to pray for Nigeria, saying, “The country is facing challenges let’s intercede for the country”.
In his address, Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, urged the Pilgrims to be good Ambassadors of Nigeria and represent the country well.
She urged them to observe the COVID-19 safety measures to avoid contracting it , saying,
“We still have COVID-19, be careful”.
She thanked various state governments for sponsoring their citizens for the pilgrimage and urged the pilgrims to pray for the progress, peace and unity of the country.
In his speech, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Board, Nestor Ezema, said that Enugu’s contingents were 84. He thanked Ugwuanyi for the sponsorship.
“We are going there to pray for Enugu State and Nigeria “, Ezema said.
He urged the Pilgrims to be of good behaviour and pray for the peace and unity of the country.
Speaking also, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Christian Pilgrims Board, Dr Dorcas Otalu, said that the Benue contingents were 50.
She said they were going to Jordan to pray for Nigeria.
She urged the Pilgrims to be of good behaviour and not to discriminate against themselves.
“Show love to one another”, she said.