The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has suspended all pilgrimages to Israel and other Middle East countries following heightened tensions in the region.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, announced the decision during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday. He said the suspension affects pilgrimages organised by the Commission as well as those handled by private operators.
According to him, the exercise will remain on hold until security conditions in Israel and across the Middle East improve.
Bishop Adegbite, however, confirmed that the last batch of over 500 Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 pilgrimage exercise returned safely in Nigeria on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says the Federal Government is monitoring the situation with a view to taking necessary action in the region.
In a statement issued Tuesday by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Commission said it has received enquiries from Nigerians in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iran regarding possible evacuation plans.
“The fact of the matter is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with all relevant agencies for appropriate steps, while appealing to Nigerians in the affected countries to follow the travel advice as issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and contact the emergency numbers provided by the ministry.
“Nigerians in affected countries should be rest assured that the federal government is monitoring the situation and will take necessary steps to ensure no Nigerian life is endangered,” NiDCOM said in a statement by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
The development follows recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets in the early hours of Saturday. Iranian authorities subsequently responded with retaliatory attacks, including strikes reported in parts of the Gulf region.
