Hanny Henry
The Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the screening of 700 intending pilgrims to Israel, urging them to cooperate with officials and prepare for the spiritual journey.
The screening exercise, being conducted at the board’s office in Yola, is designed to assess the pilgrims’ medical fitness and ensure that their travel documents are complete ahead of the pilgrimage.
Addressing the intending pilgrims, Johnson Matalo, the Head of Government Delegation, urged them to cooperate with members of the screening committee to ensure a smooth and successful exercise.
Matalo commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for approving the participation of 700 intending pilgrims, urging them to appreciate the gesture by conducting themselves in a Christ-like manner and serving as worthy ambassadors of Adamawa State and Nigeria.
Earlier, Shadrack Theophilos, the Chairman of the board, said the screening was necessary to confirm the pilgrims’ fitness for the journey and verify their travel documents.
Theophilos urged the intending pilgrims to cooperate with the officials, assuring them that everyone would be attended to.
He also reminded them that the pilgrimage should not be treated as tourism or sightseeing, but as a spiritual journey to pray for themselves, Adamawa State and Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the intending pilgrims, Alfansus Godwin, the Assistant Corps Marshal and Zonal Commandant in charge of Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe states, thanked the governor for the opportunity to participate in this year’s pilgrimage.
He pledged that the pilgrims would maintain good conduct throughout their stay in Israel and commended the screening process.
Geoffrey Garba, the Executive Secretary of the board, described the exercise as satisfactory, noting that the medical and other screening committees were on ground to ensure a thorough process. He assured the intending pilgrims that no one would be left out of the exercise.
