By Chinyere AMALU, Abuja
As the 2010 Christian pilgrimage exercise draws closer,  the Nigerian Christian  Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has announced the new package for intending pilgrims going to Rome and Israel with a marginal increase as against that of  last year.

Chairman of the Commission and Anglican Primate, Rev. Nicholas Okoh who made the announcement yesterday in Abuja, said those going to Israel and Sania (Egypt) will pay N360,275.00, while those for Rome, Israel and Sania will pay N441,775.00.

He also said that the deadline for all the payment has been fixed for 24th September 2010, adding that installmental payment is allowed provided the pilgrim finished payment before commencement date, which has also being fixed for 23rd October 2010.

His words: “ After the review and assessment of last year’s exercise which recorded huge success, we have arrived at the new package for the 2010 exercise. Those  who want to go to Israel and Sania will pay, N360, 275.00, which comprises air fare, grand handling, administrative and bank charges.

“Those who want to go to Rome, Israel and Sania will pay, N441,775.00. These also include airfare, grand handling, visa, bank and other charges. This has to be paid on or before September 2010, those who want to travel this year must work hard to meet up with this date, because we will close the book for this year.”
Rev. Okoh also pointed out that Mr. President has approved the exchange rate of N135.00 to $100.00 for the pilgrims to enable the Commission to carry out a successful exercise.

“We are also discarding pilgrims passport because there is no need for that. We expect every pilgrim to carry his/her e_passports, for easy screening and passage to other boarders in the course of the exercise”, he added.
The Chairman of the Commission, disclosed that self sponsorship would be given chance this year, called on church leaders to sponsor their members as a way of encouraging them and making it part of their church activities, adding “this will also make them take ownership of the programme without waiting for government always”.
Rev. Okoh, noted that Greece will no longer be part of visiting sites this year, as a result of crisis in the country, adding, “there is a very serious situation in the country”.
“When we want to go to the country for pre_visit, we were not allowed to enter the country. So it is out of it this year. Also we are expecting nothing less than 25,000 pilgrims for this exercise”, he stated.

Earlier in his welcome remark, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, said that the Commission has fixed commencement date for 23rd October 2010, adding that  lateness would be tolerated.
“ We have to change our commencement date from November to October 23rd to enable us work in line with our mandate given to us by Mr. President to start and end  operation within the year”.
He pointed out that the Commission has meetings with various stakeholders to review last year’s exercise, “We meet with the Ambassador of Nigeria to Rome who was very impressed with the last year’s programme and Minister of Interior in Israel”.
Mr. Kennedy, who disclosed that there are positive response from northern governors on sponsorship of Christians in their states for the exercise, said, “We have receive letter of invitation from Zamfara  and Katsina states governors. This has not happened before”