Middle East war: NCPC lifts ban on Christian pilgrimage to Israel ​

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has announced the lifting of its ban on Christian pilgrimages to Israel. The decision comes after an assessment of the security situation in the Holy Land, which the commission deems peaceful.

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I promised everyone that I will be here to see what is happening in the Holy Land. I have been here in the last three days. The Holy Land is peaceful. Jerusalem is at peace and will continue to be at peace.

Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary of the NCPC, made the announcement in Abuja on Saturday. The commission had suspended pilgrimage activities to the region in February following the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, which heightened security risks across the Middle East. Adegbite stated that his three-day visit to Jerusalem confirmed the area's peace.

Under the new arrangement, Nigerian pilgrims will only be permitted to travel through Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. Pilgrimage routes passing through Jordan are still suspended due to ongoing security concerns in that territory. Adegbite expressed confidence in the safety of Nigerian pilgrims and offered prayers for national unity and peace for Nigerian officials.

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Consequently, the ban on Christian Pilgrimage from Nigeria to Israel is hereby lifted from today.

The NCPC is the federal agency responsible for coordinating Nigerian Christian pilgrims' movements to holy sites, primarily in Israel, Jordan, and Rome. The lifting of the ban signifies the resumption of pilgrimage operations from Nigeria to Tel Aviv for the remainder of the 2026 pilgrimage calendar.

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Jordan is not safe at the moment, and the commission can not take that risk.