Pilgrimage: 30,000 Nigerians Visit Israel

Over 30,000 Nigerian pilgrims have arrived Israel to perform this year’s pilgrimage in the Holy land according to Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims, Mr. John-Kennedy Okpara.
Mr. Okpara who made the figure public yesterday during an interdenominational service for 2013 Nigerian pilgrims in Israel, submitted that this was a sharp increase as compared to 4,000 pilgrims transported five years ago.
He said pilgrimage was a time for spiritual rebirth and divine encounter with God.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan who concluded his visit to the Holy land at the weekend has enjoined Nigerians to pray for the country, saying that evil forces would never succeed in their evil ways.
He said that though the country was experiencing challenges, Nigerians had been privileged to pray to God at this period.
The President promised that his administration was eager to ensure an efficient electoral system, “we promise that we must do a number of things differently, we have challenges in our electoral system, but at least it is better than what it was yesterday”.
Jonathan went on to assure Nigerians that the country was going through transformation phase, and assured that with hope in God, the country would come up stronger and more united.
He decried the high level of vandalism of petroleum pipelines and electric poles by criminals in the country, while promising that his administration would continue to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.