The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has lifted its suspension on Christian pilgrimage to Israel, declaring that security conditions in the Holy Land have improved sufficiently to allow Nigerian pilgrims to resume visits.
The announcement was made on Friday by the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, during a visit to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The suspension, imposed in February 2026, followed heightened security concerns arising from the conflict involving Israel, Iran and the United States.
According to a statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Celestine Toruka, Adegbite said he had personally assessed the security situation during a three-day visit to Israel before taking the decision.
“I promised everyone that I would come to the Holy Land to see what is happening. 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,” he said.
He subsequently declared that the suspension on Christian pilgrimage from Nigeria to Israel had been lifted with immediate effect.
The NCPC, however, said Nigerian pilgrims will be required to travel through Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, noting that Jordan remains excluded from the pilgrimage route because its security situation has not yet been assessed as sufficiently safe.
Adegbite stressed that the Commission would not expose intending pilgrims to unnecessary risks and would continue to monitor developments before reopening travel through Jordan.
The suspension announced earlier this year disrupted planned Christian pilgrimages to Israel as tensions escalated across the Middle East. The Commission had said the decision was necessary to safeguard the lives of Nigerian pilgrims.
The NCPC is the federal agency responsible for coordinating and supervising Christian pilgrimages from Nigeria to holy sites, including Israel and other approved destinations. The Commission said it expects the remaining 2026 pilgrimage exercise to proceed successfully under the revised travel arrangements.
