Rev. Wanson Yusufu, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (PCPWB), has decried the negative effect of the dwindling value of the naira against the dollar on Christian pilgrimage.
He said the situation would adversely affect the travel arrangements for the 2024 Christian pilgrimage in the state.
Yusuf made the observation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos.
He said the development was one of the factors that might affect the downward review of the size of prospective pilgrims in 2024.
Yusuf commended the state government for its prompt response to the insecurity that had bedeviled the state in recent times.
According to him, the security issue is also one of the factors that would affect the review of the number of contingents.
“Our plans for the 2023–2024 pilgrimage are in progress; we submitted our proposal to the governor, who graciously approved the proposal earlier; we were hoping to lift quite a number of pilgrims this year.
“But one of the challenges encountered was the issue of insecurity. When a state is facing such a challenge, it calls for the absolute attention of the government and that of anyone that cares about the safety of lives and property of its citizens.
“So, in response to the challenges of insecurity faced by the state, our preparations were affected. Based on what we were expecting from the government based on the scheduled date of payment, the date passed by, and we couldn’t pay the overhead costs for the agreements.
“Initially, we were given the assurance that if we failed to pay the money before Jan. 31, the fare would be reviewed, and looking at the current exchange rates of dollars now, we know the fare would be reviewed, so this is the challenge that we have on the ground.
“When that happens, looking at how the naira is functioning today, I don’t think the government can give us more money because there is already a paucity of funds in the first place,” he said.
Yusuf expressed faith in God’s guidance to prevail over the circumstances, noting that “indeed, the reality on the ground was tough.
“So we are now left with the decision to review it downward. We had initially proposed to airlift 600 pilgrims sponsored by the state government and then 170 sponsored by the local government; that is 10 for each LGA, and the governor had approved 500 for us.
“But because of the delay in the payment of the overhead costs, if we are reviewing it downward, it means we have to reduce the number of pilgrims, and this is a big challenge too because quite a number of people that could have been there will not be there.
“I don’t know how the schedule will be and I think a greater challenge still lies ahead, just like a mother who prepared her food for her five children Lo and behold, eight children are present to eat the food. How will she share it?
“We have a few forms to share with people; sometimes I just imagine how we can achieve this successfully. We are trusting that the Lord will help us. He will help us.”
