First batch of 2025 Christian pilgrims leave for Israel, Jordan

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 - The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission has airlifted the first batch of 2025 main pilgrims to Israel and Jordan.

The Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mr Stephen Adegbite, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Head of Media and Public Relations of the commission, Celestine Toruka, on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the pilgrims were airlifted from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport using the highest seating-capacity aircraft currently operated in Nigeria.

Adegbite noted that the commission was able to secure the aircraft for the first time to airlift Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

“The aircraft, which is a Boeing 777-300, has a capacity of about 525 seats — the biggest aircraft that allows more mass movement of pilgrims to be airlifted and completed within a short period of time.

“This feat would not have been possible without the support of the President, Bola Tinubu, the members of the Board of the Commission and the air carrier.

“Without his avowed support, the Commission would not have been able to conduct the 2024 main pilgrimage exercise, the 2025 Easter pilgrimage exercise and, of course, the 2025 main pilgrimage exercise,” he said.

Adegbite also commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, for their efforts in advancing the cause of Christian pilgrimage.

He further thanked the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, for his support and consistency in sponsoring Christian pilgrims from the state, describing him as one of the most Christian pilgrimage-friendly governors in the North-East.

Adegbite assured the intending pilgrims that all arrangements had been put in place for a successful pilgrimage and urged them to be good ambassadors of Christ and Nigeria while in the Holy Land.

Meanwhile, the NCPC boss cautioned intending pilgrims against absconding during the exercise, noting that the commission had put mechanisms in place to discourage such acts.