The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, has sought the cooperation of the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, to facilitate the issuance of visas to intending pilgrims for the 2024 pilgrimage exercise.
Adegbite made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the office of the Ambassador in Abuja on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024.
The Secretary reiterated that Israel remained the destination for the pilgrimage exercise, noting that the Commission continued to pray for the peace of Israel.
“Israel is our pride in Africa and Nigeria in particular, we pray for the peace of Israel every day, and we will continue to pray for peace in Israel so that we can continue our pilgrimage exercise in the land of the Bible,” he said.
He stated that Nigerians visited Israel so well, not only because of its spiritual impact but also for agricultural purposes and exposure to the country’s advanced technologies.
The NCPC boss expressed his excitement to hear from the Ambassador that Israel has opened its borders to international travels and informed the ambassador that the Commission would prepare to visit the country
“I am so happy to hear that Israel will soon open; yesterday during my assumption I spoke by faith that Israel will open soon, and this is a confirmation that God is working,” he said.
He hinted that the Commission planned to take some executive Christians in government on pilgrimage to Israel, hinting that the First Lady of the Federal Republic, Senator Oluremi TInubu, would lead the contingent during Easter this year.
In his remarks, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Michael Freeman, thanked the Commission’s Secretary for his visit, and promised his cooperation with the leadership of the NCPC, to make visa procurement processes seamless.
He said,”I think you have done well visiting Israel first, I bring you good news, Israel is open and ready to take the Nigerian groups,” Ambassador Freeman said.
He also affirmed that the Embassy had confidence in the mechanism put in place by the NCPC, for the selection of intending pilgrims to Israel.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, played host to the Israel Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, and his entourage in his Abuja office.
During the visit, Egbetokun briefed the Ambassador about the new Nigeria Police Special Intervention Squad which is the pet project of the IG to tackle crimes and criminality, including violent crimes across the country.
He urged the ambassador to initiate a collaborative agenda in the areas of training and retraining, cross-fertilising ideas, intelligence gathering, and improved human capacity building.
Consequently, the Israeli ambassador agreed to support Nigeria in improving its policing system. Punch.
