The Lagos State Government, on Saturday night, airlifted 310 intending pilgrims earlier scheduled for the Easter edition of the holy pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Jordan and Israel.
The pilgrims landed in the Kingdom of Jordan in the early hours of Sunday, after a seven-hour flight from the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, to the Queen Alia International Airport in the Kingdom of Jordan, according to a statement on Sunday.
Before their airlifting, the pilgrims had, on Saturday, gathered for final administrative and logistic arrangements at the Chapel of Christ The Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, where a session of prayers and praises was also observed.
While addressing the intending pilgrims at the chapel, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, stressed the need for the travellers to dedicate time to intercede for Nigeria as the country celebrates its 63rd Independence Day anniversary.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Christian Religion, Very Rev. Bukola Adeleke, assured the intending pilgrims that Nigeria would be strong and rise again in the comity of nations.
He commended the “unfettered support of the state governor to ensure that those travelling for the pilgrimage with the state have a worthwhile experience and enjoy a first-class treatment in the area of welfare packages provided for them.”
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs Yetunde Gbafe, also implored the intending pilgrims to adhere to all the instructions earlier given to them and other Dos and Don’ts contained in the pilgrimage handbooks.