The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (CPWB) has commenced the screening of intending pilgrims to the Holy Land.
The minister of state for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, declared open the commencement of the screening exercise yesterday in Abuja.
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The minister, who was represented by her special assistant on Social Development, Helen Zamani, cautioned the intending pilgrims against absconding while observing the pilgrimage.
The acting director of the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mrs. Rahila Isa-Baita, said the National Christian Pilgrims Commission and the council of states decided to initiate the special pilgrimage plan to ensure the continuity of the exercise, despite the ongoing crisis between the Israelis and Palestinians, which had lasted for over a hundred days.
According to Isa-Baita, the pilgrims this time around will be using the Shengen visa for the spiritual exercise.
She said that in Rome, the pilgrims will walk the streets walked by the Apostle and visit the colosseum where the martyrs testified, which will have a lasting spiritual impact on their lives.
One of the medical personnel screening the potential pilgrims, Dr. Omokide Moshood, said the individuals were being screened for diabetes and hypertension, while those on medication would be guided on how to manage their conditions.
Moshood said individuals with complications of diabetes and hypertension who stood a high risk of flying would be screened out.
One of the intending pilgrims, Dr. Clifford Zira, who spoke on their expectations ahead of the pilgrimage, said that the pilgrimage exercise will give him the opportunity to see most of the physical things in the Bible.