This is because Israel has refused to open its border for pilgrimage.
Prince Anofiu Olarewaju Elegushi, the Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, disclosed this during the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board Stakeholders/ Sensitization Forum held for its intending Pilgrims at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja on Thursday.
Elegushi explained that the State Government in conjunction with the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) decided to embark on Pilgrimage to Jordan instead of Jerusalem after investigations revealed that Israel might not open its border for pilgrimage soon.
Also, officials of the Ministry visited Jordan during the routine State of Readiness to ascertain the level of preparedness of Jordan to host pilgrimage exercise.
“The Prophecy of our Lord Jesus cuts across many settlements, many countries not only Jerusalem. If we go through our Bible we will see the role of other countries like Jordan even Egypt, Christianity is not all about Jerusalem ” Elegushi noted.
“We decided to look at options but we cannot just make decisions without your consent, you paid your money, we don’t put the horse before the cart, we want to know your mind and whatever you, the stakeholders decide is what we will present to the Governor”.
Elegushi stated that the ministry decided to hold on to the memo written to the Governor on the decision reached to tour Jordan until after the Stakeholders meeting.
He thanked the intending Pilgrims for entrusting their funds with the State Government.
Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, in her address noted that pilgrimage to Jordan is a worthwhile experience.
“Before now I heard people say they go to Jordan from the UK actually and I wonder what do they go to do in Jordan but now I have gone, have seen and believed. I believe it is going to be the same thing for you”.
She said that some of them had to go to Jordan on the State of Readiness to be convinced about Jordan before calling for the meeting and having visited Jordan they are convinced that in future intending Pilgrims would be going on holy Pilgrimage to both Jerusalem and Jordan while assuring them of a spiritual rewarding Pilgrimage.
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