Leadership (Abuja)
Golu Timothy
14 November 2009
Abuja — Vice President Goodluck Jonathan will today in Lagos, flag off the 2009 inaugural flight for the 2009 Christian pilgrimage at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
Over 20,000 intending pilgrims from about 30 states are participating in this year's exercise as against last year's 17,000.
This is coming as about 30 states of the federation, including their local councils, are set for the spiritual event which will take some pilgrims to Rome and others to the holy state of Israel.
The executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr John Kenedy Okpara told our correspondent yesterday on his way to Lagos that the inaugural flight signified the official commencement of the 2009 pilgrimage to Israel which began today and ends in January 2010.
According to him, all is now set for the annual event in which all intending pilgrims have been screened by the commission. Medical, security, administrative and other adhoc personnel that will assist in the provision of various responsibilities have also been screened.
He said the screening of intending medical personnel was to ensure that only qualified and competent health workers would be involved so as to beef the team that would attend to the medical needs of the over 20,000 pilgrims that would make it to the Holy Land.
According to him, "About 700 health personnel applied for the first time to participate in the pilgrimage, and as a commission, we have provided an equal opportunity for each person wishing to do so. That is why we are conducting the screening and interview which started today (yesterday) and ends on Saturday. We need those whose knowledge and qualification will help in relevant areas."
He reiterated that airlifting of pilgrims for this year's spiritual exercise would commence in November unfailingly so that there would be no spill over to the next, saying already, screening of intending pilgrims had commenced in some states of the federation to be completed soon.
The NCPC officials have also signed memorandum of cooperation with a number of ground handlers in Rome and Israel who will serve as tour agents to the Nigerian pilgrims when they land in the city for this year's maiden pilgrimage to Rome.
The chairman of NCPC, Arch. Bishop Nicholas Akoh, Okpara and other commissioners and officials of the commission have undergone visits to both Rome and Israel where necessary arrangements and agreements were signed and put in place for the comfort of pilgrims. Nationwide sensitisation has also been concluded.
Already, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved four air carriers for the 2009 pilgrimage which has also been extended to Rome, aside the regular state of Israel. The four airlines will airlift over 20,000 intending pilgrims in an exercise that will begin in November this year and end in December.
The airlines approved include two foreign and two local airlines. While the first two will be the preferred winners of the bids, the other two will serve as back-ups in case of any disappointment. TAT Aviation of Israel, which was the sole carrier for the 2008 pilgrimage and the Nigerian-based Empire Aviation are the preferred winners for the exercise, while Askia Airlines of Israel and the Nigerian-based Easy Link Aviation are to serve on the bench.
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