Delta budgets over ₦2bn to sponsor 2026 Christian pilgrims to Israel, Jordan
- Delta State will spend more than ₦2bn sponsoring successful Christian pilgrims to Israel and Jordan in 2026.
- Applicants must submit forms by November 9; NCPC screening holds November 11 at CAN Secretariat, Asaba.
- Previous beneficiaries of state-sponsored pilgrimages are barred, and valid ECOWAS passports are required.
The Delta State Government has set aside more than ₦2bn to sponsor successful Christian pilgrims to Israel and Jordan under its 2026 pilgrimage programme.
The Commissioner for the Bureau of Special Duties, Erijo Etacherure, announced the figure in Asaba on Friday while briefing the state's Head of Media for the pilgrimage, Latimore Oghenesivbe.
For an ordinary Delta family, the money covers the full trip of each successful applicant, plus extra cash to buy religious materials and small gifts while in the Holy Land, according to the commissioner.
Deadlines and who qualifies
Etacherure said the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) will screen applicants on November 11 at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretariat in Asaba.
Anyone who picked up a form must fill and return it to the Executive Secretary of the Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board by November 9. Latecomers will not be attended to at the screening venue, he warned.
Applicants must bring a valid ECOWAS international passport. The NCPC decides who is eligible, and its decision is final, the commissioner said.
He also ruled out repeat beneficiaries: anyone who has taken part in a state-sponsored pilgrimage to Israel or Jordan before is not eligible, and such applications will be disqualified automatically.
Etacherure said the programme reflects Governor Sheriff Oborevwori's push to support residents' spiritual well-being, describing pilgrimage as a chance for renewal and a deeper understanding of biblical history.
He added that pilgrims are expected to pray for Nigeria, Delta State and their families, and that the state medical team will work with NCPC medics to care for pilgrims throughout the journey.
The commissioner framed the spending as part of the government's wider human development plan, arguing that roads and economic growth should go hand in hand with efforts to strengthen moral and spiritual foundations.
What happens next
Forms close on November 9, screening follows on November 11 in Asaba, and the NCPC has the final say on who travels. Intending pilgrims should confirm their passport is valid before the screening date.
