Five pilgrims from Plateau State, who were denied entry into Israel, are currently touring cities in Jordan, officials said on Saturday.
The pilgrims are part of the first batch of 295 participants from the state taking part in the 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage. They reportedly received visas valid only for Jordan and were stopped at the Israeli border, preventing them from visiting sites associated with the birth, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, told NAN that the full visa list arrived shortly before the orientation and farewell event.
“We could not resolve any issues due to the extremely short notice. I later discovered that some pilgrims had been issued visas only for Jordan and were denied entry to Israel. Had we known earlier, we could have informed them in time, allowing them the option to either stay in Jordan or cancel their trip entirely,” he said.
Rev. Bagu described the news as a “major disappointment for Christians,” noting that “Israel is where Jesus was born, where he taught, performed miracles, and fulfilled what we read in the Bible. To prepare spiritually and financially, only to be told at the last minute that you cannot enter, is very painful and unexpected.”
On the issue of visa denials, he explained that such occurrences are not unusual. “Even wealthy individuals get denied visas for the UK or USA and often have to reapply multiple times before succeeding. It is a normal part of international travel,” he said.
According to Rev. Bagu, the Israeli embassy had informed Jordanian authorities about the denials, ensuring the pilgrims were not stranded.
“Jordanian officials have arranged good hotel accommodation, meals for their entire stay, dedicated cars with drivers, and tour guides. They will visit significant biblical and historical sites in Jordan and remain engaged in meaningful activities until the rest of the group completes their Israel programme and returns,” he stated.
He said the first batch was initially planned for 300 pilgrims, but only 295 eventually travelled.
“The board has scheduled three batches in total. We forwarded 466 names to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) for the second batch, with at least 350 expected to depart on March 5, 2026.
The third batch will also include at least 350 pilgrims, though the date is yet to be confirmed. In total, the state requested approximately 1,100 slots, plus 13 carried over from the previous year, bringing the figure to nearly 1,120,” Rev. Bagu added.
Addressing rumours of inflated costs, he clarified that the state had not increased its sponsorship amount. “The rise in overall expenses is due to exchange rate fluctuations—a situation previously experienced with the Muslim Hajj,” he said.
The development comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
