Olukayode Babalola
Lafia – The Nasarawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has screened 80 persons to travel for the 2016 Christian pilgrimage in Israel, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Clement Odeh, told newsmen in Lafia on Monday that 30 of the intending pilgrims were self-sponsored, while the remaining 50 were sponsored by the state.
He said that in spite of the low number of persons intending to participate in the holy exercise, some would still be barred from travelling if found to fall short of the board’s requirements.
“The total number of persons who are to be screened is 80 but it is likely not all of them will be fit and proper to travel for the holy exercise.
“A person screened to travel must be medically and physically fit but when such intending pilgrim fails our examination, he or she will be disqualified,’’ Odeh said.
The secretary said that N98,500 would be given to each of the travellers as travelling allowance, while N23,000 was being charged by the board as administrative charges.
He said that among items to be provided by the board to the intending pilgrims included: travelling bags and quality attires to be used by all pilgrims from the state in the holy land.
Odeh blamed the drop in the number of intending pilgrims to economic recession currently being experienced in the state and the country at large.
“Today, the whole country is crying of economic meltdown. So we attribute the reduction of pilgrims to the current economic crunch.
“In fact, in the past, local government councils sponsored pilgrims at the grassroots.
“Today, most local governments are battling with the burden of payment of workers’ salaries, making it difficult to sponsor people to Jerusalem.
“So the reduction is as a result of what the Local, State and Federal Governments are going through,’’ he said.
Odeh urged successful intending pilgrims to exhibit high sense of maturity, spirituality and discipline while in the holy land and avoid frivolities such as unnecessary spending and engaging in unholy acts.
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts