The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has suspended pilgrimage to Israel following tensions in the Middle East caused by US nas Israeli attacks on Iran.
This decision was announced in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by NCPC Executive secretary Stephen Adegbite who said the suspension was necessary to protect the safety of Nigerian pilgrims, and that it covered both government-organised trips and those run by private operators.
“The recent developments in the Middle East, including the imposition of a state of emergency in Israel, have led to the putting on hold of all pilgrimage exercises,” the statement read. It added that the ban would remain in place “until the situation normalises.”
Adegbite said the commission was closely monitoring events in the region and urged Nigerians to pray for peace in Jerusalem and the wider Middle East.
The announcement comes after the NCPC completed its 2025 main pilgrimage programme. The final group of Christian pilgrims returned home safely, landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on 3 March, according to the commission.
Adegbite used the occasion to thank President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s support, saying five pilgrimages had been conducted since his appointment two years ago.
The Middle East has been heating up in recent days following the US led strikes on Iran and the resultant retaliatory strikes by Iran.
