2026: Anambra pilgrims office announces sale of forms ahead of airlifting operations

Anambra state government has announced commencement of sale of forms ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage airlifting.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Pilgrims Affairs, Mr Odira Ezeh, said this in an interview with newsmen on Sunday.

Odira said the airlifting for qualified and eligible pilgrims would commence in the first week of November and end in the last week of December, 2026.

Ezeh said this was part of the decision reached at the just concluded pilgrimage leaders and managers’ meeting held on September 14, 2026 in Abuja.

The council comprised the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) and state pilgrimage welfare boards.

He said the meeting which was chaired by the executive secretary of NCPC Bishop Stephen Adegbite provided the council the opportunity to discuss recent development in the pilgrimage sector with a view to evolving a more seamless administrative protocol.

He said Israel and Jordan have been approved as this year’s pilgrimage destinations assuring that life and safety of pilgrims were accorded priority attention during the conversation.

Ezeh called on qualified and intending pilgrims in Anambra state to take advantage of the robust relationship between the pilgrims office and the NCPC, adding that the administration of Soludo was deliberate in ensuring that the religious tourism sector thrived in the state.

“I want to announce to the good people of Anambra that the State Pilgrimage Welfare Boards had a very fruitful meeting with the NCPC in Abuja last week.

“At that meeting, the airlifting of Pilgrims to Holy Land was approved to commence from the first week of November till the end of December.

“So in line with that development, , I want to announce that sake of forms has commenced in Anambra and we shall come up with more details in the coming days,” he said.

Eze appreciated Soludo for creating a conducive political environment for the successful administration of pilgrim affairs as well as his deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, for effective supervision and support.