Over 350 Christians from Nasarawa State will accompany President Goodluck Jonathan on pilgrimage to Jerusalem this year following approval by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who granted the request by John Kenndy Okpara, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission.
Okpara, who was on a courtesy visit to the governor, in Lafia, Wednesday, had sought an increment in the number of government sponsored seats from the state, among other issues of interests to the Christian community in the state. He said President Jonathan will, himself, travel for pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and sought the increase of pilgrims from the state to accompany him.
Al-Makura, who called for continuous unity between the various religions in the state as a tool for development, declared his steadfastness to a policy he evolved to work with the Christian community in the state.
He said one of the cardinal points of his administration was promoting religious harmony, and stated that he was working on a template to build understanding and tolerance to ensure peace in the state.
The governor said he would honour the requests put forward by the Executive Secretary which include the release of a brand new vehicle to the State Christian Pilgrims Board, and a site would be identified for the building of a befitting office and an increase in the number of Christian pilgrims the from the state.
Earlier Opara stating that this would be first time a Nigeria President would go for pilgrimage empahsised that pilgrimage is not just jamboree but a tool for moral and spiritual transformation. He said to make it easier on people this year the Federal Government was subsidizing the cost of dollars for pilgrims to N146 to 1$ for both the Muslim and Christian pilgrimages.
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