Kaduna Resumes Christian Pilgrimage Scheme After 11-years

The Kaduna State Government has revived its Christian pilgrimage programme after an 11-year suspension, with 50 intending pilgrims set to embark on the journey under government sponsorship.
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‎The development was announced during the 2025 orientation programme for the pilgrims and has been warmly received by Christian faithful, who described the move as a “strong statement of fairness, equity, and inclusive governance.”
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‎Speaking at the event, the Head of Service in the state, Jimami Bako, commended Governor Uba Sani for restoring the programme.
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‎According to him, the decision reflects a leadership that recognises the importance of spiritual growth alongside physical and economic development in the state.
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‎“This administration understands that governance goes beyond infrastructure. It also involves supporting the spiritual wellbeing of the people,” Bako said.
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‎The Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the revival of the pilgrimage scheme demonstrated the government’s commitment to justice, fairness and inclusiveness.
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‎He urged the intending pilgrims to use the opportunity to pray for peace, unity and sustained prosperity in Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole.
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‎Maiyaki noted that the programme would further strengthen trust between the government and citizens, while promoting religious harmony in the state.
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‎For many beneficiaries, the return of the Christian pilgrimage programme signals renewed hope and confidence in the government, with stakeholders describing it as a boost to peaceful coexistence among religious groups in Kaduna.
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‎Naija News recalls that the last state-sponsored Christian pilgrimage from Kaduna took place in November 2014, when 567 pilgrims were airlifted from the state airport to Israel.
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‎Speaking at the airport before their departure, the then governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, had urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria while in the Holy Land.