Nigeria’s federal government has suspended all pilgrimages to Israel with immediate effect, citing the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) announced the decision in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday. Executive secretary Stephen Adegbite said the suspension was necessary to protect the safety of Nigerian pilgrims, and that it covered both government-organised trips and those run by private operators.
“The recent developments in the Middle East, including the imposition of a state of emergency in Israel, have led to the putting on hold of all pilgrimage exercises,†the statement read. It added that the ban would remain in place “until the situation normalises.â€
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Adegbite said the commission was closely monitoring events in the region and urged Nigerians to pray for peace in Jerusalem and the wider Middle East.
The announcement comes after the NCPC successfully completed its 2025 main pilgrimage programme. The final group of Christian pilgrims returned home safely, landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on 3 March, according to the commission.
Adegbite used the occasion to thank President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s support, saying five pilgrimages had been conducted since his appointment two years ago.
