Despite criticisms over federal and state governments’ sponsorship of pilgrimages with state funds, the tension is not over yet.
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission has frowned at six states from the North which have refused to sponsor Christian pilgrims to its annual pilgrimage in Israel.
The chairman of the commission Archbishop Nicholas Okoh while presenting the 2014 pilgrimage report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said that Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina states have refused to cooperate with the commission in sponsoring Christians from their states for the annual event.
The clergyman called on Nigerians and corporate bodies to take the issue of pilgrimage more seriously by sponsoring individuals to help pray for the country.
He also lauded Christians nationwide as he disclosed that there was a 50 percent increase in the number of self-sponsored pilgrims in 2014.
