NCPC – Naija Gospel Radio

NCPC Reiterates Importance of Prayer

NCPC Reiterates Importance of Prayer

Head Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) Media Unit, Celestine Ogugua, has reiterated the importance of prayer in the commission’s pilgrimage programme.

Ogugua stated this over the weekend at the end of a prayer convocation held on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

The convocation was dedicated to seeking God‘s intervention in affairs of Nigeria.

The cleric noted that different groups converged on Mount Zion at the heart of Jerusalem to pray for God’s intervention in Nigeria.

“This edition of the prayer convocation was special and unique as it paraded a sizeable number of high profile church leaders as well as four members of the NCPC Board.

“The prayer event provided a veritable platform to pray and intercede on sundry critical areas of life.

“Prayers were offered for the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, the growth of the economy of Nigeria and the success of the forthcoming 2019 general elections,” he said.

He noted that prayers were also offered for the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the unity of the Nigerian Church, women and against abscondment during pilgrimage.

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Hold CAN Responsible for Absconded Pilgrim, NCPC says

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has stated that the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kano State Chapter, Rev. Adeolu Adeyemo, be held responsible for one Samuel Taiye who absconded in Israel.

The Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev. Tor Uja, stated this when the Director-General of Leadership Newspapers of Nigeria, Abdul Gombe, paid him a visit in his office on Wednesday.

Uja noted that Taiye is from Osun State but resides in Kano state, with his wife, four children and attends the Apostolic Church in Kano state.

According to him, “The NCPC team has its doubt on Taiye because of the type of document he presented.

“The Pastor of his church called to plead on his behalf and later the CAN state’s chairman put a call through to the commission to recommend Taiye and guaranteed that he will take responsibility if Taye should abscond.

“I have called them this morning to provide Taiye, his wife and four children; they are presently under the custody of the Department of State Security, Kano.

“The state chairman must take responsibility and make sure Taiye comes with the last flight back to Nigeria.”

He stated that this would serve as deterrent to other intending absconders and their guarantors.

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100 Nigerian Pilgrims Abscond in Israel

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja, has announed that about 100 Christian pilgrims absconded during the 2017 pilgrimage to Israel.

The NCPC boss who made this known while receiving security report of the 2017 pilgrimage on Monday in Abuja, said that no pilgrim absconded in Rome and Greece.

Uja noted that the pilgrims who absconded were from five states in Nigeria, adding that a serving soldier, a police inspector and a lecturer were among the absconders.

While recommending ways to avoid future similar incidents, he noted that “It is time to build this country and to give it foundation; it is time to give this country a character; it is time to give this country a vision and a hope.”

He continued, “It is time to make Nigerians to know that our land is a land of great opportunities. We have more opportunities in Nigeria than in America and in Israel.

“We have better land than anywhere else, what we are going to get is a revitalisation to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ afresh and to have a revamping of our spiritual lives.”

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NCPC Moves To Prevent Absconding By Pilgrims

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja, has said that the commission has introduced a four-step extreme vetting of pilgrimage, to prevent absconding by pilgrims.

The NCPC boss made this assertion in an interview with newsmen at the ‘Bid Opening for Airlifting and Ground Handling for 2018 Christian Pilgrimage’, on Monday in Abuja.

The cleric noted that the commission had introduced the four-step extreme vetting to ensure that anybody found guilty as charged would not be allowed to travel to the Holy land for pilgrimage.

“We have also introduced a four-step process of pilgrimage screening, the extreme vetting begins especially with those states we call the red line states.

“Those are the states that we call, we conclude that have the highest propensity of absconding figures.

“All those states we say no to your candidates until any candidate shows himself or herself worthy of travelling.

“Anybody worthy must supply a guarantor from the government or a high government official without, which no matter the money you have you will not go,” he said.

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NCPC to Hold Joint Farmers Conference in 2018

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Uja Tor Uja has disclosed that the Commission will be holding the maiden edition of a Joint Farmers Conference in May of 2018.

The NCPC boss made this known when he hosted the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Guy Feldman at the Commissions Corporate Headquarters in Abuja recently.

According to Him, the conference which would attract farmers from all parts of the country, would be followed by an agricultural pilgrimage of selected groups of farmers from different states to the Holy Land to explore the opportunities that abound in agriculture in Israel.

He explained, “We started working on a project, to run a joint farmers conference in Nigeria and follow it up with the farmers pilgrimage to Israel. That project became delayed because of some developments that came up but we are hoping that we should factor it in the next year 2018.

“We are hoping that we should factor it and have that conference with some Israeli agricultural technocrats in collaboration with Nigerian farmers all over the country gathering together in a three day conference and thereafter, selecting groups from each state that will go for the agricultural pilgrimage both for prayers and to also get more exposure to some of the things Israel is doing.

“I believe Nigeria can excel and dominate the world with agricultural products, we have the man-power, arable land, free water, and we have almost everything cheaply. I think the only thing we need is a partnership that can deepen our roots and make us achieve our goals”.

“We believe that with you here, my distinguished ambassador, we should achieve these goals. We want you to stand with Nigeria and NCPC to achieve the goals of building our people and exporting foods to the world and showcasing Nigeria as a true spiritual center of the world”.

While acknowledging the developments in agriculture, infrastructure and technology of Israel irrespective of the little arable land and water available to them Rev. Uja noted that,

“Israel has done so well by developing their agriculture, infrastructure and technology. We acknowledge the technology behind the infrastructure and of course the commitment to its nation. We want to learn a couple of things from Israel and work with that partnership. We want our pilgrims aside from prayers and visit to sites to have more exposure too.”

He commended the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria for the good works he has been doing since he assumed office in Nigeria hence he presented an award of excellence as the most supportive embassy in Nigeria to him on behalf of the Commission.

“We want to thank you for being such a strong ambassador and a focused diplomat for Israel. In acknowledgement of you, the ambassador and what Israel has done to improve and make pilgrimage a success, we want to honour you with this award as the most supportive embassy in Nigeria award,” he said.

Speaking, the ambassador thanked the Commission and he assured that the Israeli government would welcome any challenge and ideas on how the embassy can serve Nigeria better.

He further stated, “It’s always a great pleasure coming here and sitting with friends and brothers and I am much honored to be your brother.

“Thank you very much for these. It’s not me; it’s a lot of people at the embassy. It’s a very small dedicated embassy which is like Israel itself.

“The potential of Nigeria is huge and I wish we have a fusion of these potentials. Israel and its embassy here in Nigeria is the same, so we are welcoming any challenge; this is the Israel spirit.”

The ambassador informed that the Israeli government is going to organize Agriculture and Technology Trade Fair called “Agrictech” in May 2018 next year and will be having the Nigerian government in participation alongside other nations of the world.

“Just to give you an impression on what we are doing, in May 2018, we are going to have in Israel a very big agriculture technology trade fair called Agritech. It’s an overall and holistic approach to agriculture”. We are promoting a pavilion of Nigeria to take place in these Agrictech and we are going to focus on four things; water, energy, power and education.

“We are already in cooperation with the federal government to meet with the ministers of water, energy, power and education to create this wonderful pavilion and people from all over the world would be coming together to see what treasures they have here and challenges that we are having together and then we can reach for the sky,” he said.

NCPC Boss: Nigeria Bereft of True Leadership

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Uja Tor Uja, has identified one of the problems confronting Nigeria is a bereft of true leadership among rich men and women.

Uja who disclosed this in Abuja during it dinner and award night at Yar’ adua Centre, said that most rich Nigerians still prefer to take from the poor, stressing that no country thrives in such manner, regretting that respected leaders are in desperate mood of oppressing the poor.

According to the NCPC boss, in developed countries, leaders and rich men sponsor the less privileged to holy land for pilgrimage but in Nigeria, well to do Nigerians are eager to oppress the poor even approach NCPC office for free ticket to holy land that the less privileged paid for.

“You can imagine those we respected so much and know well that they have what it takes to go to Holy land still approach the commission for free tickets instead of sponsoring less privileged to holy land, We want them to support poor Nigerian to holy for them to pray for the country.

He reiterated that Nigerians are building houses they may never stay instead of empowering it citizens in their engagement

“It may shocked you that former Israeli president had only two bed room flat and later gave it to Israeli government before he dead but I in Nigeria we want acquire everything without helping anybody, how can we move forward, we must develop the heartbeat of helping one another for the interest of all, he admonished.

According to him, the commission is moving from where it has been to a new level through members empowerments, processes of programs and structures that would ensure full participation, partnership with stakeholders whom must diligently identified.

Uja said it was possible for pilgrims to do mighty things for the country through pilgrimage because churches have a voice and role to play in this nation.

“We need to invest in our people in all ramifications to be able to develop our country and this can only be achieved through pilgrimage.

“Our leaders in churches and politicians should also see it as a priority to sponsor Nigerians to go on pilgrimage to pray for our dear nation.

“A country like Nigeria needs a spiritual rebirth. I do not believe Nigeria does have the kind of problem people are clamouring we have.

“It is time for church leaders to arise and pray for the healing of this nation; the greatness of Nigeria is in its people. The church needs to think of how to invest its strength in bringing back the glory of the country,’’ the NCPC boss said.

He however calls churches in the country, philanthropists to do more than before helping of building infrastructure for the future.

The highlight of the event were the presentation of award to best individual pilgrimage sponsor award to Hon Yakubu Dogara, best national pilgrimage costume award to Bauchi state and Best church sponsorship group award to Catholic secretariat of Nigeria.

Christians and Muslims are Not in Competition – Rev. Uja

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Uja Tor Uja has stressed the need for Christians and Muslims to live in unity.

He disclosed this recently while playing host to the Executive Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Mukhtar Abdullahi in his office in Abuja.

In the words of the NCPC boss, “it is important to say that Christians and Muslims are not in competition, we are in cooperation”.

He added, “It is important for all Nigerians to learn the importance of cooperation”.

He explained that there was no need for social strife and unrest in the country, especially considering the harm that the Boko Haram insurgency has caused this nation.

He commended his guest for the achievement recorded during the just concluded 2017 Hajj operations. According to him, “we are very proud of what you achieved in 2017 Hajj”.

The NCPC Chief Executive reaffirmed that despite the high number of pilgrims, the Hajj Commission was able to effectively manage them without issues. He congratulated the NAHCON Chairman and his team for their giant strides. He also called on all the Muslims and Christians in the country to work for the progress and peace of Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary further stressed that “Nigeria is bigger than our local needs, “I will like Nigeria to be our agenda, a dream that we want to see”.

Rev. Uja further remarked, “I respect what you have achieved in Hajj, trusting God that you will achieve greater things.”

Tor Uja: Nigeria Needs Spiritual Rebirth

Rev. Tor Uja, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, said on Friday that the nation needs a spiritual rebirth.

Rev. Uja made this remark at a meeting with states chairmen and secretaries of the Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board ahead of the launch of the 2017 Christian Pilgrimage, in Abuja.

According to him, the major problem confronting Nigerians remain spiritual and lack of truth in the society.

While announcing that the 2017 pilgrimage for October/December would be launched on November 19, Rev Tor Uja maintained that Nigeria was a blessed country among nations, which has made it an envy of other leaders of the world.

According to him, Nigeria had contributed to the development of other countries, especially in peace keeping in Africa and other countries around the globe.

The NCPC boss maintained that with all the resources that God had blessed the country with, it was time to stop depending on the government.

He said it was possible for pilgrims to do mighty things for the country through pilgrimage, adding that the Church has a voice and role to play in this nation.

“We need to invest in our people in all ramification to be able to develop our country and this can only be achieved through pilgrimage.

“Our leaders in Churches and politicians should also see it as a priority to sponsor Nigerians to go on pilgrimage to pray for our dear nation. A country like Nigeria needs a spiritual rebirth. I do not believe Nigeria does have the kind of problem people are clamoring we have.

Uja urged the leaders to sensitise and encourage people on the essence of Christian pilgrimage, adding that it transcends beyond the spiritual and helps in building nationalistic spirit.