By Marvellous Ezenwa
The Anambra State Pilgrims Office, under the Office of the Deputy Governor and led by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo on Pilgrimages, Hon. Barr. Odira Ezeh, has announced the lifting of the ban on Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
The announcement followed a statement by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, (NCPC), Rt. Rev’d (Prof.) Adegbite Stephen Tunde Victor, PhD, GPJ, who is currently in Jerusalem.
Speaking from Jerusalem on Saturday, August 1, 2026, Rt. Rev’d (Prof.) Adegbite expressed gratitude to God for the prevailing peace and safety in the Holy Land. After spending three days assessing the security situation, he stated that Jerusalem is peaceful and safe for Christian pilgrims and announced that the suspension of pilgrimages from Nigeria has been lifted with immediate effect.
He, however, explained that, for security reasons, Nigerian pilgrims will temporarily be required to enter Israel through Ben Gurion Airport, while travel through Jordan remains suspended until further notice due to ongoing security concerns.
Reacting to the announcement, Hon. Barr. Odira Ezeh described the development as welcome news for Christians in Anambra State and across Nigeria who have been looking forward to undertaking the spiritual journey to the Holy Land. He reaffirmed that the safety and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims remain the Commission’s highest priority and urged intending pilgrims to strictly adhere to all travel and security guidelines issued by the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission.
Hon. Ezeh also disclosed that the Anambra State Pilgrims Office has begun preparations for the forthcoming pilgrimage exercise. He assured prospective pilgrims of the continued support of the administration of Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, adding that every effort would be made to ensure a safe, well-coordinated and spiritually rewarding pilgrimage for participants from the state. He encouraged Christians to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Holy Land, describing Jerusalem as a place of immense spiritual significance where believers can strengthen their faith and deepen their relationship with God.
Hon. Ezeh joined Rt. Rev’d (Prof.) Adegbite in praying for enduring peace in Jerusalem and Nigeria, while also seeking God’s wisdom and guidance for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and other leaders across the country. He expressed confidence that pilgrims from Anambra State would return home safely with renewed faith, testimonies and divine blessings.
