17th November, 2016
Mr Daniel Shawulu, Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Christians Welfare Board, said at least 35 Christians from the state have registered to perform 2016 pilgrimage to Israel and Rome.
Shawulu revealed in Bauchi on Thursday that 30 of them had paid their fares in full, while others have up to the end of the month to do so.
According to him, the board had undertaken campaign to encourage individuals and churches to sponsor intending pilgrims.
The executive secretary disclosed that the board had designed an online registration portal for intending pilgrims, to stop them from travelling to Bauchi for the registration.
The official said that the portal would be closed at the end of November, and urged those interested in embarking on the journey to pay their fares before then.
He said that the board would soon embark on the screening of the intending pilgrims, stressing that there would be no screening by proxy.
Shawulu said that intending pilgrims travelling from the state to Israel would pay N473, 940 while those travelling to Rome would pay N589, 810.
He said that the intending pilgrims would be transported through Gombe, Jos or Kaduna Airports as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was undergoing rehabilitation.
The executive secretary warned pilgrims against defection while in Israel or Rome, saying that such act would attract a fine of $5,000 to be paid by the pilgrim’s guarantors.
He said that the board had published booklets and placed jingles on radio to enlighten the intending pilgrims on the rites to be performed during the exercise.