By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission has concluded its 2025 main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, announcing the safe return of the final batch of Nigerian pilgrims and the suspension of further exercises due to developments in the Middle East.
The last contingent arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday,3 March,2026 formally bringing the exercise to a close.
However, the commission disclosed that recent events in the region, including the imposition of a state of emergency in Israel, necessitated the suspension of all pilgrimage activities including those organised by private operators until stability is restored.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations, Celestine Toruka, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Stephen Adegbite, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, for their support.
“Without the President’s support, we would not have been able to conduct the five pilgrimages conducted since my appointment two years ago,” Adegbite said.
He reaffirmed that the commission prioritised the safety and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims throughout the exercise.
According to him, the decision to halt further pilgrimages followed careful monitoring of security developments in Israel and the broader Middle East.
Adegbite explained that the state of emergency declared in Israel prompted the suspension, noting that the commission would continue to observe the situation closely.
He also commended stakeholders and the media for their cooperation during the exercise.
Furthermore, the Executive Secretary called on Nigerians to pray for peace in Jerusalem and across the Middle East, stressing that lasting stability in the region remains critical for the resumption of pilgrimage activities.
The 2025 main pilgrimage exercise, the commission noted, ended successfully with the safe return of all participants, marking another phase in its two-year record of conducting pilgrimages under the current leadership.
