The Executive Chairman of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Yakubu Pam, made this known while addressing the intending pilgrims at the point of departure in Yola on Monday.
He said 164 pilgrims were sponsored by the Taraba State Government and 29 from Gombe, out of which three of them were self-sponsored, saying the pilgrims would also visit Jerusalem for the ritual.
He urged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria while at the Holy land while calling on them to endure and persevere the rigours of the religious engagements as they would be visiting numerous historical sites.
Pam commended the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for its regular support to the National Christian Pilgrims Commission, stressing it would continue to support government policies and programmes.
He, however, called on the pilgrims to pray for continued peace and stability of the nation, considering the current security challenges bedeviling the nation, especially now that the 2023 general elections were fast approaching.
“Any pilgrim who decides to abscond and not return to Nigeria would definitely be apprehended and sanctioned appropriately,” he said.
(NAN)
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