Some pilgrims from Plateau State who faced entry denial into Israel have begun exploring various cities in Jordan.
The group consists of five pilgrims and is part of a larger cohort of 295 individuals from the state who are participating in the 2026 pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Reports indicate that these pilgrims received visas that were valid solely for Jordan, leading to their inability to cross into Israel, which is a primary destination for Christians looking to visit sites associated with the life of Jesus.
Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, informed reporters that the complete visa list was only made available prior to the orientation and farewell ceremony.
"We were unable to resolve these issues due to the very short notice. Afterward, I learned that some pilgrims had been issued visas only for Jordan and consequently denied entry into Israel. If we had been informed earlier, we could have notified them in advance, giving them the option to either remain in Jordan or cancel their trip altogether," he explained.
He expressed disappointment on behalf of Christians, emphasizing that entering Israel is significant since it is the birthplace of Jesus and a site of many events described in the Bible. "To prepare both spiritually and financially only to be informed last minute that you cannot enter is extremely disheartening and unexpected," he added.
Rev. Bagu remarked that visa denials occur frequently in international travel, stating, "Even wealthy individuals often face visa rejections for places like the UK or USA and usually have to make multiple applications before achieving success. This is a common scenario."
Furthermore, the Israeli embassy had already informed the Jordanian authorities about the visa denials, assuring that the affected pilgrims are not left stranded, as Jordanian officials have organized suitable hotel accommodations, meals throughout their stay, as well as transportation and tour guides.
“They will have the opportunity to visit key biblical and historical locations in Jordan and will remain occupied with meaningful activities until the rest of their group completes the pilgrimage in Israel before returning,” he noted.
Initially, the first batch was scheduled to include 300 pilgrims; however, only 295 were able to travel. The board has arranged for a total of three batches, having submitted 466 names to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) for the second batch, with at least 350 individuals set to depart on March 5, 2026.
A subsequent batch is also anticipated to consist of 350 pilgrims, although the departure date has yet to be determined. Overall, the state has requested roughly 1,100 slots, along with 13 carryovers from the previous year, bringing the total to nearly 1,120 pilgrims.
Rev. Bagu addressed allegations regarding inflated costs, clarifying that the state has not raised its sponsorship amount. He remarked, “The increase in total costs is a result of fluctuations in exchange rates, a situation we have previously encountered with the Muslim Hajj.”
This incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly due to ongoing US and Israeli actions involving Iran.
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