Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has inaugurated a six-man committee to lead the 2012 Christian pilgrimage, with a charge to ensure a hitch-free conduct of the pilgrimage.
The Committee is headed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Steel & Metallurgy, Senator Phillip Aduda.
Other members of the committee include the Chairman, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Israel Akanji; Catholic Vicar-General, Abuja, Rev. Fr. Innocent Jooji; Rev. Bob Alonge, Mazi Emmanuel Olugbuo, and the Director, FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr. Lazarus Gaza, who will serve as secretary.
Over 1,000 Christian pilgrims from the FCT are expected to undertake this year’s pilgrimage.
The minister charged the committee to repeat the feat of last year where no pilgrim from the FCT delegation absconded in the holy land.
“The security and welfare of FCT pilgrims in Nigeria and the holy land should be accorded necessary desired attention,” Akinjide said.
She enjoined pilgrims from the FCT to pray for the country and its leaders so that the country would overcome its current challenges and directed the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board to provide necessary support services to achieve maximum success.
In his acceptance speech, Aduda, assured that the committee will achieve zero abscondment during the pilgrimage.
“We want to assure you that the team will implement a hitch free Christian Pilgrimage to the holyland this year and they will ensure a zero abscondment of the pilgrims. The team will redouble efforts to achieve maximum success as charged and submit a comprehensive report on completion of the operations,” she added.