The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) will inaugurate the delayed 2025 Easter Pilgrimage exercise on Sept. 14 at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.
Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary of the Commission, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
The statement, signed by Mr Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations at NCPC, noted that ahead of the official commencement of the delayed Easter Pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, the Commission had taken measures to ensure a seamless and successful exercise.
Adegbite said the Commission recently undertook an inspection of the pilgrims’ aircraft in Antalya, Turkey, where he was received by the Executive Director of Atlasjet, Mr Serkan Yazicioglu.
He explained that Atlasjet is the approved air carrier by NCPC for the 2025 pilgrimage airlift, adding that due process remained one of the policy thrusts of his administration.
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“The Commission cannot afford to compromise on its set standards.
“The physical inspection of the pilgrims’ aircraft is necessary to ensure that the aircraft meets the required specifications as codified in the contractual agreement between the Commission and the air carrier.
“The Commission will stop at nothing to ensure that the philosophy behind its corporate slogan, ‘Service and Satisfaction’, is implemented to the letter,” he said.
Adegbite further confirmed that the aircraft inspection was satisfactory and expressed confidence that it would safely and comfortably airlift Nigerian pilgrims.
He also commended Mr Yazicioglu for his expertise and unwavering commitment to serving Nigerian Christian pilgrims.
In the same statement, the Executive Director of Atlasjet assured the NCPC boss that there would be no service failure in their operations, stressing that the safety of Nigerian pilgrims remained the airline’s top priority.
He added that the aircraft, an Airbus with a seating capacity of 350, was technically sound and equipped with modern in-flight facilities.
Yazicioglu assured Adegbite that the aircraft would be deployed to Nigeria before Sept. 14, ahead of the inaugural flight to Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
