NCPC Lifts Ban on Christian Pilgrimage to Israel, Requires Travel Through Ben Gurion Airport

The National Commission for Pilgrims (NCPC) has lifted its suspension of Christian pilgrimage to Israel, according to two reports. Executive Secretary Bishop Stephen Adegbite announced the decision at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, following a three-day assessment of the security situation. The commission had suspended pilgrimages in February. One report attributes the suspension to hostilities involving Israel, Iran, and the United States, while the other describes it as a response to the escalation of the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

Adegbite declared the suspension lifted with immediate effect. Under the new arrangement, pilgrims must travel exclusively through Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. One report says this applies to pilgrims from Nigeria. Adegbite said Jordan is currently considered unsafe for pilgrimage operations, so the commission chose a different route and travelers will not be routed through that country.

Celestine Toruka, the commission’s Director of Media and Public Relations, issued a statement on the commission’s behalf setting out the decision. Adegbite said previous batches of pilgrims had completed their journeys and returned safely. One report states that the 2026 pilgrimage will follow the same pattern, while the other says Adegbite expressed confidence that the remaining 2026 pilgrimage exercise would be successful.

Adegbite also called for prayers for peace across Nigeria. According to one report, he specifically named peace with President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady in his appeal. The reports do not describe any further details of that call.