The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has officially lifted the ban on Christian pilgrimages to Israel after declaring Jerusalem peaceful and safe for travel.

The Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Bishop Prof. Stephen Adegbite, announced the decision directly from the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem following a three-day on-the-ground assessment. The travel suspension, which was originally instituted in February 2026 due to regional security concerns stemming from the US-Israel-Iran conflict, has now been rescinded.

Under the new guidelines, Christian pilgrims from Nigeria will be permitted to travel exclusively through Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. However, visits to Jordan remain excluded from the itinerary, as the commission determined that travel through that route continues to pose unacceptable safety risks.

Bishop Adegbite assured intending pilgrims of their security, citing the safe return of previous cohorts and expressing confidence in the successful execution of the 2026 pilgrimage exercise.

During his declaration, he also offered prayers for national peace across all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and for the country’s leadership.