A deal has been struck by the Delta State Government and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission to airlift pilgrims from the Asaba International Airport to Jerusalem.
The Governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, said his administration would work with the commission to ensure that the deal was hitch free.
Included in the deal, according to the governor, was the addition of other neigbouring states to benefit from the deal by making use of the oil rich state’s airport.
Speaking in Warri when a team of the NCPC, led by its Executive Secretary, Reverend John-Kennedy Opara, visited the state, the governor observed that the use of the Asaba International Airport to airlift pilgrims was a welcome development.
While he disclosed that his administration had mapped out programmes to ensure that pilgrims from the state do not only embark on the trips for spiritual and moral reasons, he said time would be devoted to study the agricultural programme of places like Israel during pilgrimage.
He said: “We have introduced a system where Deltans are allowed to study the nature of agriculture of the people of Israel while on pilgrimage.
“So it is not only for spiritual benefit.”
He noted that Nigeria has more fertile land than Israel but the agriculture sector of that country was thriving more.
He used the occasion to challenge the NCPC to have a laid-down procedure for intending pilgrims who wished to sponsor themselves to do so with ease, assuring Opara that the state government would meet its quota of sending 1, 500 pilgrims to the holy land this year.
He said: “For us in Delta State, we take the issue of pilgrimage very serious and we commend your efforts in encouraging Nigerians to go on pilgrimage because there is a lot of benefits in going on pilgrimage.”
Opara, who accompanied by Commissioners of the NCPC, lauded Governor Uduaghan for the massive development being witnessed in Delta State.
He observed that Governor Uduaghan has a great vision for the state, adding: “I believe that you coming to Delta State as a governor is divine.”
He disclosed that 1,500 slots have been allocated to Delta State for the next pilgrimage, stating that plans were on for the pilgrims to be airlifted from the Asaba International Airport.
Opara stated that it was important for Nigerians to go on pilgrimage because of the spiritual and moral benefits of having such trips, adding that families were now encouraged to go on pilgrimage together because a lot of benefits are derivable when families pray together.
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