Five Christian pilgrims from Plateau State have been denied entry into Israel after arriving in Jordan as part of the state’s 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage.
The affected travellers were among the first batch of 295 pilgrims who departed Nigeria to visit biblical sites linked to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. However, they were stopped at the Jordan–Israel border when authorities discovered their visas allowed entry only into Jordan.
Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, said the visa list was received shortly before the pilgrims’ orientation and farewell ceremony, leaving insufficient time to resolve discrepancies.
“We could not address the 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 to either remain in Jordan or cancel the trip,” he said.
Rev. Bagu described the situation as disappointing, noting that Israel holds central spiritual significance for Christian pilgrims because of its connection to key biblical events.
He added that visa denials are not uncommon in international travel, explaining that travellers across the world often face similar challenges.
The cleric disclosed that the Israeli authorities had already informed Jordanian officials of the visa restriction and that arrangements were made to ensure the affected pilgrims were properly accommodated.
According to him, the five pilgrims have been provided hotel accommodation, meals, transport, and tour guides, allowing them to visit important biblical and historical sites in Jordan while the rest of the group completes its Israel itinerary.
Rev. Bagu further revealed that although the first batch was initially projected to include 300 pilgrims, only 295 eventually travelled. He noted that three batches were scheduled for the exercise.
He said the board had submitted 466 names to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for the second batch, with at least 350 pilgrims expected to depart on March 5, 2026. Another group of about 350 pilgrims is also planned, though its departure date has yet to be fixed.
Addressing concerns over rising pilgrimage costs, Rev. Bagu clarified that the Plateau State Government had not increased its sponsorship contribution, attributing the higher expenses to exchange rate fluctuations that have affected international travel.