By Eunice Orike
Minister of State of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, has cautioned intending Christian pilgrims against absconding during their pilgrimage to Jordan and Israel, stressing that the government would not tolerate any act capable of tarnishing Nigeria’s image.
Mahmoud gave the warning on Monday in Abuja at a pre-departure orientation programme for over 142 intending pilgrims.
She noted that stringent measures have been put in place to curb abscondment and other misconduct, urging participants to serve as worthy ambassadors of the FCT and Nigeria.
She further encouraged the pilgrims to conduct themselves with dignity while in the holy land and to pray for President Bola Tinubu as well as the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This pre-departure orientation is a demonstration of government’s commitment to your spiritual wellbeing. For anyone contemplating absconding or indulging in acts inimical to the country’s reputation, have a rethink”, she said.
She said that the Federal Government has put proactive machinery in place to counter such efforts, adding that she expected all pilgrims to return safely with rewarding spiritual experiences.
Also speaking, Acting Director of the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Gloria Dandam, noted that while no case of abscondment has been recorded in the FCT in recent years, guarantors of defaulters would be held accountable if such incidents occur.
“In FCT alone, 142 pilgrims have paid and are set to travel, alongside others from different states. Your guarantors signed forms on your behalf; if you don’t return, they will be arrested and prosecuted,” Dandam warned.
