Chinwe Ochu
1 January 2009
Abuja — Nigerian pilgrims to Jerusalem have been restricted to Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv for the spiritual exercise, to guide against being caught in violence.
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Commission (NPCP), John Kennedy Opara, said there was no cause for worry, adding that the commission was moved to take certain steps after being summoned by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and incessant inquiries from a cross section of Nigerians on the state of Nigerian pilgrims in Israel.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, Opara said the Commission was in constant touch with the pilgrims, tour operators and the Nigerian Embassy in Israel.
"Early this morning (yesterday), our flight left for Israel and arrived safely with the Ambassador receiving them. I was informed that they have been checked into their hotel rooms.
"One of the measures taken is that we have mandated the tour operators and ground handlers to avoid stormy areas and that every movement to the Gaza areas have been put off. So all trips to the northern part of Israel have been put off for now until the security situation improves.
"We are no longer going to Jericho, have suspended our trip to Mount Sinai and the Gaza areas, we have mandated the tour operators to adhere strictly to this directives, and ensure that our pilgrims go to the safest areas."
Opara said the fall-out of his summons from Jonathan was that he will lead a delegation of the Commission to Israel today, for an on-the-spot assessment of the directives, adding that Israeli authorities, especially the Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs were assisting towards this.
Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Moshe Ram, who returned to Nigeria on Tuesday, said his government treasures its relationships with several countries and was eager to transcend the relationship from government-to-government to that of people-to-people.
He said Israeli government has taken all measures to protect Nigerian pilgrims, "though some parts of Israel have always been very problematic, and it has been for a long time, not a friendly neighborhood but the pilgrims are completely secure. Not a single pilgrim would be endangered, as long as they are under our care, we do not intend to endanger them, we will do everything humanly possible to keep them safe, get them out of any kind of trouble." He said it is natural for Nigerians to feel concerned about media reports of events in the Gaza areas, adding that "I want to assure Nigerians that not all that is seen or heard portray the actual event on the ground. But I assure you that nothing bad will happen to the pilgrims, the Government of Israel is doing its best to protect them."
In addition to measures taken, the envoy said no pilgrim would be in the proximity of the troubled areas, "because they would be in the middle of the country, that is Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and in the north, they would not be going anywhere close to the Gaza areas where the attack is taking place.
Even in Gaza areas, it is about 30 kilometers from where civilians live. So no group of pilgrims would be allowed into those areas which make it safer for them. They will be between 70 to 100 kilometers from the Gaza areas," the envoy said, adding that checking of visitors into the country have been stepped up to forestall terrorists disguising as tourists, medical personnel or pilgrims.
Another batch of pilgrims takes off today to join 2,215 that have commenced the exercise. The first batch is expected back in the country on January 7. The pilgrimage would be rounded up in February.
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