The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission ( NCPC) on Friday in Abuja announced the 2012 fares? to Israel, Greece and Rome with about 15 per cent increase over? the 2011 rate.
Speaking with newsmen, NCPC’s Executive Secretary John-Kennedy Opara said that intending pilgrims to Israel/Sinai and Rome or Greece would pay N406,150 and N529, 440 respectively.
According to him, elderly persons who intend to participate in the 2012 exercise will pay the sum of N400, 425.
Opara said the minimum BTA for Israel/Sinai was pegged at 500 dollars while the maximum figure was put at 750 dollars and the BTA for Rome or Greece was put at 1,000 dollars.
He explained that the fares were approved at an exchange rate of N145 to the dollar.
Opara attributed the difference in the rates for the 2012 and 2011 pilgrimage to rising cost of the dollar.
He said that the fares for the 2011 exercise were approved at a concessionary exchange rate of N135 to the dollar.
The NCPC boss identified another factor responsible for the increase in the fares to trends in the economy, saying that the system was dynamic and prone to changes at different times.
Opara also announced President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval of Atlas Jet Airline and KS Travels/Empire Aviation Services as the two air carriers for the exercise.
He said the President also approved two other air carriers, Easy Link Aviation Services and TAT Nigeria Ltd to be on standby.
According to him, the two substantive air carriers will be replaced by either Easy Link Aviation Services or TAT Nigeria Ltd in the event of any failures.
Opara said the President also approved nine ground handlers that would be responsible for the needs of pilgrims in the Holy land.
He said that the commission has fixed Sept. 15, 2012 as deadline for payment of fares, saying the commission would not entertain delays in payment from groups or individuals.
Opara said the screening of intending pilgrims would commence by the end of July while transportation of pilgrims would commence by Oct. 25,? and end Dec. 24, 2012.
He urged all intending pilgrims, state governments and other sponsors to assist the commission by adhering strictly to the released schedule.
Reacting to the fares released by NCPC, the Chairman of Adamawa State Pilgrim Welfare Board, Mr Edward Ishaya, described the increase of about 15 per cent over the 2011 rate as normal.
Ishaya, who is also chairman of Conference of States’ Pilgrim Welfare Boards, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the increase was anticipated and should not affect pilgrims’ participation in the 2012 exercise.
He said that the various boards had in their various sensitisation campaigns informed intending pilgrims of a possible increase in fares.
Ishaya said that intending pilgrims were already aware of the development and would adjust appropriately to enable them embark on the trip.
He said that those who had already paid to the various pilgrim boards had adequate time to make up for the slight changes in the fares.
“I am not sure that the increase would affect the exercise this year because we have already told them about a possible hike in fares which is normal.
“In fact some of them are already preparing for this and even if the increase was more than what we have heard today, they would still have gone. ”
NAN reports that the NCPC is targeting more than 20,000 pilgrims in the 2012 exercise. (NAN)