Pilgrimage : NCPC Moves To Strengthen Partnership With Jordan

The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC is to strengthen partnership with the Kingdom of Jordan to advance the cause of pilgrimage by exploring landmark Holy Sites as recorded in the Bible.

The Executive Secretary NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite stated this when he met with the Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities as well as top officials of the Ministry in Amman, Jordan.

Bishop Adegbite’s visit to Jordan, is to seek for renewed robust relationship as Jordan has become a pilgrimage destination for Nigerian pilgrims in the last three years.

The NCPC helmsman commended Jordanians for their Pilgrimage friendly disposition and urged them to sustain the tempo.

He explained that the screening of intending pilgrims is usually handled by professionals in government to ensure that all pilgrims return to Nigeria after the spiritual exercise.

Bishop Adegbite however sought the collaboration of relevant agencies of government in Jordan to consider upgrading such sites, such as the baptismal site of Jesus Christ in River Jordan, the Jabok River, amongst others to a befitting international status with a strong religious appeal.

He also canvassed for retraining of tour guides for effective service delivery and also to assist in facilitating the deployment of bus service equipped with modern communication gadgets which could be possible through an interface between the Jordanian government with the Ground Handlers.

Speaking, the Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Secretary General of the Ministry, Dr Emad Hijazeen thanked the Executive Secretary for his first official visit to the Ministry since his assumption of office and assured him that all the concerns raised for better Pilgrimage operations would be promptly addressed.

He maintained that the Jordanians are at home with the Nigerian pilgrims and would do everything as a government to ensure that the bilateral relations between the two countries be strengthened.

Kayode Oyedare, Edited By Grace Namiji