The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) Rev. Tor Uja has said that the reason why pilgrims abscond during pilgrimage is as a result of colonial mindset of the people. He disclosed this recently during a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu.
He explained that the Commission is carrying out a campaign of advocacy to enable Nigerians believe in Nigeria. He also explained that the Commission has intensified the screening and rescreening of intending pilgrims to check the rate of abscondment during pilgrimage.
Rev. Uja further hinted that the Commission would ensure with effect from this year that any state with high number of abscondees during pilgrimage would be blacklisted by the Commission.
The NCPC boss also explained that as part of the efforts of the Commission to check abscondment of pilgrims, the Commission has decided to increase the security surveillance during pilgrimage.
Rev. Uja affirmed that Nigeria is a nation of future. He explained that the coming together of Nigeria was beyond what the colonialists conceived, he said it was an act of God.
He described Nigeria as the headquarters of the black race in the world. According to him, “every tribe and region must diminish for Nigeria”.
The NCPC helmsman further affirmed; “no situation is enough to diminish the capacity of Nigeria as a nation”.
He called on the media to give special attention to the positive sides of Nigeria rather than reporting on the negatives.
He stressed that he would want Nigerians to have confidence in Nigeria. His words; “I want a new nation where everyone will be proud to come”.
He explained that Christian pilgrimage under his leadership is focused on three aspects which is enhancing the spiritual content of pilgrimage, using pilgrimage to showcase the great beauty and capacity that Nigeria has and using Christian pilgrimage to promote national development.
According to Rev. Uja, “our pilgrims must be exposed to the Israeli Agricultural technology and come back to replicate it here in Nigeria”.
He commended the DG for the wonderful work he is doing at VON. He therefore solicited for improved partnership between the two organizations.
In his remark, the Director General of VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu promised to partner with NCPC in order to advance the cause of pilgrimage in Nigeria. To this effect, he stated that a joint committee comprising both organizations would be set up to come up with a partnership template for the collaboration.
He commended President Mohammadu Buhari for the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for the Federal Ministries and Agencies which according to him has helped in checking the menace of ghost works in the federal government pay role.
The DG stated, “We will continue to partner with you because we believe in the powers of prayer”.
