Soludo opens pilgrimage opportunities to more people, rallies council chairmen

The government of Anambra state under Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has assured that access to religious pilgrimage will be expanded to accommodate all citizens irrespective of their economic background.

Barr. Odira Ezeh, Senior Special Assistant to Soludo on Pilgrims said this when he paid a courtesy call on Dr Chibuike Ofobuike, the Chairman of Augusta Local Government Area (LGA) and chairman of the committee of council chairmen on Friday.

Ezeh said the visit was part of the ongoing effort to strengthen partnership and deepen grassroots participation in pilgrimage administration and to achieve a successful pilgrimage programme in Anambra.

He said strategic engagement was aimed at fostering collaboration with the 21 LGA Chairmen as well as acquaint them with the vision, programmes, and policy direction of the Anambra Christian Pilgrims Office.

He said the governor had continued to demonstrate remarkable commitment to pilgrimage administration, recognising its spiritual, moral, social, and economic significance to Anambra state.

“It is the earnest desire of Mr Governor that every deserving citizen, irrespective of social or economic background, should have the opportunity to undertake a pilgrimage through the programmes and opportunities provided by the government.

“Under the guidance of the Deputy Governor, the Pilgrims Office is implementing policies and programmes that promote transparency, accountability, operational efficiency, and improved service delivery.

“The deputy governor is also driving the introduction of a Pilgrimage Lottery Programme, designed to create wider access to pilgrimage opportunities for eligible citizens.

“The initiative is intended to strengthen transparency, fairness, and public confidence in the pilgrimage selection process while expanding participation and ensuring a more efficient and accountable pilgrimage administration in Anambra,” he said.

Ezeh said local government chairmen were critical stakeholders in the successful implementation of pilgrimage programmes through the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and the pilgrimage agenda of Anambra state government.

He said their active participation was essential in ensuring that government policies effectively reached the grassroots while urging them to help the Pilgrims Office identify, mobilise, sensitise, and coordinate qualified intending pilgrims within their respective LGAs.

In his response, Ofobuike welcome Ezeh and appreciated him for working to make the Pilgrim Office more effective and people oriented.

He assured of the the readiness of the LGA chairmen to work with Pilgrim Office and ensure that the people of the grassroots understood the message and enjoyed the benefits of religious pilgrimage.