By Abdul Jelil Adebayo
On 5th February, 2026, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the fourth substantive Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC will be marking two eventful years as the new sheriff at the commission.
He came prepared and knowing what it takes to be at the helm of affairs at NCPC he hit the ground running as he summed it up by saying ‘we have been able to navigate through the waters of pilgrimage by living up to the expectations of our mandate.’
At every opportunity he has, Bishop Adegbite has always reminded that Pilgrimage is a spiritual journey, not a jamboree.
He admonishes intending Christian Pilgrims to avoid embarking on shopping sprees and to concentrate on the real purpose of the journey, which is premised on spirituality.
Not only that, Bishop Adegbite also urges intending Christian Pilgrims to be cautious with what they eat while in the Holy Land, stating that they should eat with decorum and etiquette.
He emphasized that the Pilgrimage journey should be a period of new experience.
He also uses every opportunity he has to emphasize that the peace and progress of Nigeria depend on unity, mutual understanding, and collective resolve, not on divisive narratives.
Commenting on the recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump alleging a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria and hinting at possible foreign military intervention; he said, “While we appreciate global concern for the welfare of Christians, we clarify that the security challenges confronting Nigeria should not be misconstrued as a religious war but as a national security crisis driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminality that have affected all citizens regardless of faith.”
Citing data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA), the Executive Secretary revealed that between 2020 and 2025, over 20,000 civilians lost their lives in various conflicts across the country — including both Christians and Muslims.
These figures, he pointed out, underscore the fact that Nigeria’s challenge is not a genocide against a particular faith but a complex national security emergency.
He however lauded the ongoing efforts of the Federal and State Governments in combating insurgency and restoring stability in affected regions, noting that significant progress has been recorded in recent years.
According to him, the government has never sanctioned violence against any faith group.
“What Nigeria needs from the international community is partnership, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism training, and humanitarian aid — not threats of military invasion.”
He further warned that any reckless foreign military action could destabilize the entire West African sub-region, leading to humanitarian and economic crises.
“Nigeria is a complex, multi-ethnic democracy with over 220 million citizens and more than 250 ethnic nationalities, what we need is cooperation and solidarity, not coercion or divisive rhetoric.”
Bishop Adegbite also commended the collaboration between Christian and Muslim leaders through the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), describing it as a vital platform for interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding.
“We, as religious leaders, stand united against violence. Our calling is to heal, not to divide; to build bridges, not walls,” he declared.
He therefore appealed that the battle is not Christians versus Muslims; it is Nigerians versus terror. ‘Our nation’s strength lies in our shared humanity, faith, and hope in a peaceful future.’
He appealed to the media, international observers, and global advocacy groups to engage with verified facts and support efforts that promote healing, justice, and reconciliation among Nigerians.
On the mandate of the NCPC as provided in its enabling Act of 2007, he said it empowers it to coordinate and supervise the movement of Christians from Nigeria to Israel and other holy sites around the world for the purposes of performing Holy Pilgrimages to various holy sites in our pilgrimage destination nations.
“It is with a deep sense of humility that I make bold to state that since my assumption of office as the fourth substantive Executive Secretary of NCPC on 5th February, 2024, we have been able to navigate through the waters of pilgrimage by living up to the expectations of our mandate.”
He recalled some notable landmark under his administration. Hear him: the Commission organized the first Executive pilgrimage with members of the National Assembly to Rome and Israel in July, in the same vein, we were also able to organize the second phase of the Executive Pilgrimage with about 100 members of the House of Representatives between 3rd to 9th September; the first of its kind since the history of the Commission and this collaboration with members of the National Assembly has become a recurring event in our pilgrimage calendar.
It is instructive to state at this juncture ,that the Easter Pilgrimage exercise is an off shoot of the Commission’s Main Pilgrimage exercise.
Therefore we have resolved that the Easter pilgrimage exercise would henceforth take place during Easter period between April and June every year by the grace of God.
While appealing to ‘our esteem intending Christian Pilgrims to the holy land to shun any act that will tarnish the image of the state and Nigeria. You must be good ambassadors of Christ and Nigeria.
You are expected to be of good behavior while in the holy land and cooperate with the host countries in Israel and Jordan and avoid the temptation of staying back after pilgrimage, because there will be no hiding place for absconders.’
Reminding as usual, Bishop Adegbite urged all intending pilgrims should note that pilgrimage is not tourism, it is not a jamboree ,rather it is a spiritual journey of faith which is aimed at having an encounter with God.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of NCPC urged members of the Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CTPAN) to prioritize the nation’s image above personal interests.
He emphasized the need for unity, discipline and shared responsibility among all stakeholders involved in Christian Pilgrimage operations.
According to him, as representatives of Nigeria in the Holy Land, every operator carries the duty to project the country in a positive light and uphold the values of honesty, transparency and Integrity.
The Image of Nigeria is greater than any one of us, we must always remember that we are ambassadors of our nation and of the Christian faith.
The NCPC Boss further urged members to strengthen their partnership as success can only be achieved when operators work together with shared purpose, mutual trust, and genuine commitment to service.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage administration and ensuring that every participant enjoys a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.
According to him, effective partnership with licensed tour operators remains crucial to the success of the Commission’s mandate.
In his response, the Chairman of Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (CTPAN) Rev. Dr. Israel Kristilere appreciated the Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, for his open-door leadership style and his commitment to strengthening collaboration between the Commission and private tour operators.
He commended the Executive Secretary for his emphasis on unity, transparency, and the collective advancement of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.
He assured that the Commission would maintain zero abscondment of Nigerian pilgrims in Israel and uphold transparency in its dealings.
The staff of the commission are not left out in praising the workaholic executive secretary of NCPC for the transformation the commission is undergoing.
Most staffers of the commission said everyone is happy with the trend of administration under Bishop Adegbite and congratulated him for his recent appointment as the chaplain of Aso Rock. “This goes to show his spiritual commitment to the kingdom work. He holds the enviable record of being the first Bishop to head NCPC since the establishment of the Commission.”
*Abdul is Abuja based journalist and wrote in via abduljelil2001@gmail.com