The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has suspended pilgrimages to Israel and other parts of the Middle East following escalating tensions in the region.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Stephen Adegbite, announced the decision during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to him, all pilgrimages organised by the commission, as well as those arranged by private pilgrimage operators, have been put on hold until security conditions in Israel and across the Middle East return to normal.
Adegbite said the move was taken as a precautionary measure to safeguard the lives of Nigerian pilgrims amid the ongoing crisis.
He also confirmed that more than 500 pilgrims, who constituted the final batch of the 2025 pilgrimage exercise, safely returned to Nigeria on Tuesday.
The commission reiterated its commitment to prioritising the safety and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims and assured the public that updates would be provided once the security situation improves.
