By: Eugene Upah. Total read time: 2 Minutes
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has issued a strong warning to Nigerian Christian pilgrims, cautioning them against absconding during their holy journey to Israel and Jordan. The president’s message was delivered on Wednesday at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State, during the flag-off of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission’s (NCPC) 2025 Delayed Easter Pilgrimage Exercise.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, President Tinubu emphasized that the pilgrimage is a “spiritual journey of faith” and a chance for pilgrims to experience moral transformation and spiritual renewal. He urged them to return to Nigeria with their groups, stating that their experiences abroad should be used to help build a better society.
“You should not contemplate absconding in your mind because there is no country like Nigeria,” the president said. “While in Nigeria, you have your freedom, and you will be recognized in your own little way. But once you stay behind illegally, you have automatically lost all your respect and dignity.”
President Tinubu highlighted his administration’s unwavering support for both Christian and Muslim pilgrimages, noting that prayer remains a vital force for the nation. He reiterated his government’s commitment to promoting religious harmony and the spiritual well-being of all Nigerians, regardless of their faith.
The president also assured pilgrims that his administration’s policies, while sometimes tough, are designed for the long-term benefit of citizens, promising that “there will certainly be light at the end of the dark tunnel.” He pointed to progress in youth empowerment, infrastructure, education, and security, citing a reduction in insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry as proof of the government’s resolve to restore peace.
The president warned that the NCPC has implemented strict measures to ensure “near-zero” cases of abscondment. He praised the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Bishop Professor Stephen Adegbite, for achieving almost zero absconding in all pilgrimages since December last year.
President Tinubu also noted that the theme of the pilgrimage aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to improve the quality of life for all Nigerians. He lauded Bishop Adegbite for successfully organizing four pilgrimages within two years of his leadership, including the current Easter pilgrimage.
