️ Nigerian authorities have suspended all pilgrimages to Israel and the occupied West Bank with immediate effect, citing security concerns linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
️ The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) stated that the measure was necessary to prioritize... the safety and comfort of Nigerian pilgrims.
️ The decision follows the conflict that spread after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which led to the closure of airspace across the region and stranded passengers.
️ Approximately 600 Nigerian Christian pilgrims in Israel and the West Bank have been evacuated to Jordan and then back to Nigeria since the conflict began.
️ The suspension applies to all state-organized trips and those arranged by private tour operators. Officials said the ban would remain until the regional situation stabilizes.
️ Thousands of Nigerian Christians undertake pilgrimages annually to Biblical sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth. These journeys, often subsidized by state governments, are a significant part of Nigeria's religious calendar.
️ Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has a large Christian population, particularly in the south. Many save for years to make the trip.
️ Easter, which falls in a month, is one of the most popular times for Christians to visit Israel and the West Bank.
️ Nigerian Muslims attempting to travel to Mecca for the Umrah pilgrimage have also been affected by flight cancellations to the region. Some passengers were removed from planes ready for takeoff.
️ Alhaji Musa Rabi'u Muhammad, head of the Murna travel agency in Kano State, reported that some people had boarded planes but were brought back down and are now at home.
