Nigerian Christian pilgrims have cause to celebrate following the official resumption of holy travels to Israel. Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), broke the news after a comprehensive security assessment, declaring an end to the multi-month travel restriction.
The commission had previously suspended all spiritual journeys to the Holy Land in February 2026, moving swiftly to safeguard citizens amid the outbreak of the highly volatile US-Israel-Iran regional conflict.
According to an official statement by the NCPC Director of Media and Public Relations, Mr. Celestine Toruka, Bishop Adegbite made the historic declaration directly from the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem on Saturday, 1st August 2026.
Standing directly at the historic site, Bishop Adegbite confirmed his personal verification of the region’s stability. “I promised everyone that I would be here to see what is happening in the Holy Land. I have been here in the last three days,” he stated.
Emphasizing the calm atmosphere in the region, he assured citizens of their safety. “The Holy Land is peaceful. Jerusalem is at peace and will continue to be at peace,” Adegbite said, before issuing the official directive: “The ban on Christian Pilgrimage from Nigeria to Israel is hereby lifted from today.”
However, the clearance comes with strict logistical boundaries to guarantee maximum security. The Executive Secretary explained that the lifting of the ban will permit pilgrims from Nigeria to travel exclusively through the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, while completely bypassing Jordan, which the commission notes is not yet safe.
Moving from security to spiritual assurance, Bishop Adegbite stressed that Jerusalem remains a chosen nation, declaring that everyone who sets foot in the Promised Land shall be blessed, and every prayer offered there shall be answered.
Concluding on a note of operational confidence, the NCPC helmsman reiterated that all previous pilgrims successfully returned home without incident. He promised that the remainder of the 2026 pilgrimage calendar will achieve similar success, pointing out that the commission remains fully dedicated to the absolute safety and comfort of all Nigerian travelers.
