Lagos Govt. promises intending Christian pilgrims hitch-free exercise, begins medical screening

The Lagos State Government through its Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSCPWB), has promised hundreds of intending Christian pilgrims a hitch-free and memorable journey for the religious exercise abroad.

It disclosed that arrangements were being put in place to prepare intending pilgrims for the religious expedition in the holy land.

The Board Secretary, LSCPWB, Yetunde Gbafe, gave the assurance on Tuesday during opening of the administrative and medical screening exercises for pilgrims in the state.

She hinted that the Executive Secretary, National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Bishop Stephen Adegbite is presently in Jerusalem having closed door meetings with relevant authorities in order to ensure hitch free pilgrimage.

As gathered, the intending pilgrims are expected to be airlifted in the month of May 2024 for the religious exercise.

Gbafe, noted that while the engagement were ongoing, the board in collaboration with the NCPC and other relevant government agencies commenced the administrative and medical screening for pilgrims, to prepare them ahead of the exercise.

Gbafe said the pilgrims who couldn’t be airlifted in the year 2023 due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts will also be screened again to ascertain the present status of their health.

She stated further that the safety of pilgrims is of utmost importance to the Lagos State Government and the National Christian Pilgrims Commission.

The board secretary said, “We want our pilgrims to be fit, hale and hearty. We want to go to the holy lands and return with all our pilgrims, without any records of abscondment or death.”

She implored the intending pilgrims to give accurate and sincere information about their health status to the medical personnel, saying, “This will afford the state government to make adequate preparation to cater for the medical needs of the intending pilgrims.”

The Head of Operations NCPC, Adetunji Olufemi stated that the administrative part of the screening exercise was designed to see the readiness of the intending pilgrims validate their travel documents and verify their motives.