NCPC airlifts 2,500 pilgrims to Israel

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has successfully airlifted about 2,500 pilgrims to Israel for the first batch of the 2014 pilgrimage.

Executive Secretary of the commission, John-Kennedy Opara, who disclosed this in Abuja on arrival from Israel, noted that this year’s second edition of “A Day with Jesus,” for Nigerians in Israel, was of great impact.

Opara also explained that the 2014 presidential pilgrimage, in which President Goodluck Jonathan participated for the second consecutive time, was awesome and soul-lifting.

He stated that, apart from his participation in the spiritual exercise, which included visits to some important holy sites in Israel, the President also had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Opara pledged that the NCPC would do everything to ensure the smooth transportation of pilgrims throughout the operation, without compromising standards.

Meanwhile, the first batch of pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory who departed Nigeria for Israel on October 18 would return to the country on October 29, 2014 after a successful pilgrimage exercise.

See full story: Daily Independent