About 1,600 Christians from Kaduna State are to perform this year’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the executive secretary of the State Christian Welfare Board, Reverend Joseph Jatau Yari has said.
Yari disclosed this while briefing journalists yesterday on the level of preparedness on the part of the board to ensure a successful exercise this year, even as he assured that the board was committed and putting all the necessary measures in place that would ensure a hitch-free exercise.
He, however, urged all intending pilgrims who have indicated interest through the collection of forms to fill them appropriately and return same in good time for onward processing.
However, he said, ‘’Those who are under the age of 30 and pregnant women will not be allowed to perform the pilgrimage, except in rare cases.’’ He added that only those who are 50 years and above would be allowed to travel to Rome or Greece.
According to him, the decision was consequent upon the 2010 experience in which three persons within that age bracket absconded. Part of the requirements for qualification, he said, was the presentation of an indigene’s form (photocopy), a medical certificate, an e-passport, declaration of age or birth certificate and a letter of permission, especially for intending female pilgrims.
?According to the executive secretary, “The holy pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise and not a business trip or a site seeing exercise. It is an opportunity to pray for those attending and their families, the state and country in general. ”
Yari said the commencement date of the airlift would be made known in due course, but urged all the intending pilgrims to make themselves available for the screening exercise, both at their respective local government areas and that to be conducted by the board, which is scheduled from October 26 to 28, 2011.