The first flight of the pilgrimage exercise took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on December 29, 2025. Citing persistent security concerns in the Middle East, the Federal Government, via the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), said on Tuesday that all pilgrimages to Israel will be immediately suspended.
Shortly after 500 pilgrims arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport from the 2025 Main Pilgrimage exercise, Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, revealed the information in a press conference in Lagos.
The first flight of the pilgrimage exercise took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on December 29, 2025. Over 4,000 Christian pilgrims from Nigeria were transported to the Holy Land without any incidents being recorded.
The Commission used a Boeing 777-300 aircraft with 525 seats for the operation, according to the head of the NCPC. It was Nigeria’s biggest aeroplane ever utilised for an airlift of Christian pilgrims. He did, however, note that the Commission has been forced to halt additional pilgrimages due to recent military developments in the area.
“You are aware of the most recent security developments in the Middle East and Israel.”The Commission has decided to halt all pilgrimages, both by the Commission and private operators, until the security situation normalises due to the state of emergency declared by Israeli authorities and restrictions on public gatherings,” he stated. Adegbite stressed that the Commission is keeping a careful eye on the situation and that the security and well-being of Nigerian pilgrims continue to be of utmost importance.
He warned Nigerians not to participate in demonstrations or do any other activities that would intensify the crisis’s tensions. He said that until international travel to Israel is considered safe, pilgrimage activities would continue to be suspended. “Peace and security are important to the federal government. As a result, we encourage Nigerians to exercise moderation and refrain from taking any acts that would jeopardise diplomatic ties or national security,” he continued.Adegbite also thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he called “unprecedented support” for pilgrimages by Muslims and Christians. He also thanked George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for their contributions that made the 2025 exercise a success.
In order to avert a humanitarian crisis, Adegbite called on Christians and peace activists to keep praying for calm in Jerusalem and throughout the Middle East.
