Nigeria adopts Jordan as permanent pilgrimage destination

Nigeria has officially adopted the kingdom of Jordan as one of the permanent destinations for its citizens to visit for pilgrimage.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mary Gana of the Public Relations department of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) on Monday in Jos.

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The statement said Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary of the commission disclosed the development when he visited the Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiques, Mr Nayef Alfayez.

Pam stated that the Federal Government had saddled the commission with the responsibility of taking Christian pilgrims to all holy sites around the world.

“The commission in the past had three pilgrimage destinations which are: Israel, Rome and Greece.

“But now Jordan has been officially added to our pilgrimage destinations.

“This is only possible because the Jordanian government has opened its doors to us.

“The support and co-operation accorded us to ensure a hitch free pilgrimage exercise especially in the area of visa procurement is impressive.

“You kept to every promise you made to us and we are grateful,” he said.

The executive secretary added that the new development would further boost relationship between Nigeria as Jordan in the area of peace, tourism, agriculture and technology.

Earlier, the Jordanian Minister, Alfayez, thanked the executive secretary and his team for their visit.

He commended the Nigerian government and NCPC for considering and adding the holy sites in Jordan as viable pilgrimage destinations.

Alfayez explained that the greatest value the country had cherished as a nation was the peaceful co-existence between the Christians and the Muslims.

“We work together as brothers and we accept each other not minding our religious differences,” he said

He assured that the Jordanian government would do everything possible to ensure pilgrimage to the country was worthwhile.

In a remark, the Nigerian Ambassador to Jordan, Mr Faruk Yabo, also thanked the Jordanian authorities for their cooperation and support to the success of the pilot scheme of pilgrimage to the country.

Yabo solicited for more cooperation in the area of visa procurement to enable more Nigerians to have the opportunity to visit Jordan so as to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.(NAN)