JOS — Five Christian pilgrims from Plateau State were denied entry into Israel after arriving in Jordan, the primary destination for Christians seeking sites linked to Jesus’ birth, ministry, and resurrection.
The pilgrims are part of the first batch of 295 from the state participating in the 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage. They received visas valid only for Jordan and were stopped at the Israeli border.
Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, told reporters on Thursday that the full visa list arrived very late last week, just before the Saturday orientation and farewell event.
“We could not resolve any issues due to the extremely short notice,” Rev. Bagu explained. “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 described the news as “a major disappointment for Christians, as Israel is where Jesus was born, taught, performed miracles, and fulfilled biblical prophecies. To prepare spiritually and financially, only to be told at the last minute that you cannot enter is very painful and unexpected.”
Rev. Bagu added that visa denials are not uncommon internationally. “Even wealthy individuals get denied visas for the UK or USA and often have to reapply multiple times before succeeding. It is a normal occurrence in international travel.”
The Israeli embassy had already informed Jordanian authorities of the denials. As a result, the five pilgrims are being accommodated with hotels, meals, dedicated cars with drivers, and tour guides, while visiting significant biblical and historical sites in Jordan. They will remain engaged in activities until the rest of the group completes their Israel programme and returns, after which the entire batch will fly home together.
The first batch was originally planned for 300 pilgrims, but 295 eventually travelled. Three batches are scheduled in total. The second batch, comprising at least 350 pilgrims, is expected to depart on March 5, 2026, while the third batch will include at least 350 pilgrims, with dates yet to be confirmed.
In total, Plateau State requested approximately 1,100 slots, plus 13 carried over from the previous year, bringing the figure to nearly 1,120. Around 800 people have been screened so far.
Addressing rumours of inflated costs, Rev. Bagu clarified that the state has not increased its sponsorship amount. “The rise in overall expenses is due to exchange rate fluctuations, a situation previously experienced with the Muslim Hajj. The Board’s total budget for the programme does not exceed ₦4 billion, and claims of over ₦7 billion being spent are inaccurate.”
At the send-off ceremony, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by Deputy Josephine Piyo, urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of Plateau State and Nigeria, and encouraged them to pray for the nation, the state, and its leaders.
Rev. Bagu also reminded Christians of the biblical instruction to pray for those in authority rather than merely criticize them.
