The Federal Government through the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has announced the suspension of further pilgrimages to Israel until the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran is resolved.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement was signed by Mr. Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations at the NCPC.
Addressing widespread reports suggesting that Nigerian pilgrims are currently in Israel for pilgrimage activities, Adegbite dismissed the claims.
He clarified: “No Nigerian Christian pilgrims are in Israel, as the Commission’s 2024 main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan ended in March 2025.”
He added: “Given the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, which escalated on June 13, no Christian pilgrimage will occur in Israel until the crisis is resolved. The Commission is closely monitoring the situation.”
The NCPC is the statutory agency tasked with coordinating Christian pilgrimages from Nigeria to Israel and other holy sites around the world.