The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) said it has put in place measures to prevent absconding during Christian pilgrimage.

Rev. Tor Uja, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), made this known at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja

He described pilgrims’ defection after the spiritual exercise as “a sore point” for the country.

According to him, in future only people duly employed and married will perform the Christian pilgrimage so as to check absconding of pilgrims.

“Absconding is a sore point in pilgrimage because even those foreign nations, they want to lure Nigerian youths to stay in their countries. Because Nigerians are energetic, they are brilliant and they are dependable.

“So, many of these foreign nations want to lure them. So, the structures we have put in place include what I have said before, screening.

“We want to limit those who don’t have any proper engagement or family commitment even though they may be sincere”.

He said that pilgrims would not be easily lured when they have responsibilities back home in Nigeria.

Uja told NAN that the engagement of security operatives to monitor the pilgrims is another measure taken by the commission to stall pilgrims’ defection.

He said the commission would also continue to give pilgrims orientations to discourage them from absconding after the exercise.

The executive secretary pointed out that being a faceless person in a foreign country is worse than remaining a poor Nigerian at home.

Uja advised defectors to return to Nigeria in order to contribute their quota to national urged churches to take ownership of the Christian pilgrimage.

The executive secretary explained that the goal of the commission has been to reposition and create a new orientation to Christians and the Church on pilgrimage.

He said that the churches’ participation in the spiritual exercise would enable Christian pilgrims to derive the maximum benefits of the exercise.

Credit: NAN