Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam


By Daniel Dauda, Jos


The executive secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Yakubu Pam have warned about two thousand five hundred (2,500) intending pilgrims that were airlifted to the Kingdom of Jordan not to dire abscondment as punitive measures is put in place to dealt with defaulters.

Pam said during screening the commission were careful to dig information regarding every intending Pilgrim and to the best of "our ability we shall have zero abscondment as we embark on this Jordan experience God permitting."

The NCPC Boss make the statement at the official flagging-off of the 2020 Christian pilgrimage at the Yakubu Gowon airport, Heipang, Jos on Saturday.

He said the choice of Jordan to perform the 2020 pilgrimage become a necessity as Israel was still under lockdown.

"We are still monitoring the development there as we hopeful that Israel will open its doors for the 2021 pilgrimage starting November-December this year.

"In April, after due consultation with most stakeholders, we visited Jordan on a search of holy sites, and happily enough, some major sacred sites were identified.

"Apart from hosting the river where Jesus Christ was baptized, and where He started His earthly ministry, other holy sites abound such as mount Nebo where Moses stood and had an overview of the promised Land before his death.

"Jordan has a thin borderline with Israel and hardly will you differentiate between the two nations that served as a point of convergence for both trade and religious routes in the Middle East", Pam revealed.

A Cross section of intending pilgrims about to be airlifted to Jordan Yakubu Gowon airport Heipang, Jos on Saturday.


He further acknowledged that all Pilgrims embarking on the exercise has undergone COVID-19 vaccination.

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong in his farewell message charged contingents to see the opportunity of going to pilgrimage as one which they should develop themselves spiritually and draw closer to God, nothing that the exercise is not a jamboree.

He calls for continue prayers for the sustenance of peace, development and to overcome the challenges bedeviling Nigeria.

Our correspondent learned that each of the over six hundred pilgrim airlifted to Jordan from Plateau State cost the sum of nine hundred and fifty thousand (N950,000,00) Naira, apart from their uniforms, food and accommodation which if put together is over a million Naira.