The Ebonyi State government said yesterday that it would sponsor 350 pilgrims for this year's holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Chairman of the state's Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Fr. Vincent Odom, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abakaliki.

"The 350 intending pilgrims have been medically screened and certified fit, and their documents processed to embark on the spiritual exercise," he said.

Odom said the intending pilgrims cut across the armed forces, police, paramilitary forces, market organisations and the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

According to him, CAN's slot is spread among the various blocks that make up the association and that only the nominated individuals were allowed to purchase the forms. He said the state has completed arrangements for the transportation of the pilgrims.

"Ebonyi has not recorded any death, ill-health or disappearance of its pilgrims in the holy land since the inauguration of the present board in 2009," he said.

NAN