Nigeria Lifts Ban on Christian Pilgrimage to Israel

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Bishop Prof. Stephen Adegbite, announced the lifting of the ban on Christian pilgrimage to Israel, which had been in place since February 2026 due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

This announcement was made on August 1, 2026, at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Bishop Adegbite stated that he had visited the Holy Land for three days and confirmed its peaceful state, declaring, “The ban on Christian pilgrimage from Nigeria to Israel is hereby lifted from today.” He specified that Nigerian pilgrims must travel exclusively through Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, as travel through Jordan is currently deemed unsafe.

Bishop Adegbite emphasized the significance of Jerusalem as a blessed location for prayer and reassured that previous pilgrims returned safely. He expressed hope for the same outcome for the 2026 pilgrimage and extended prayers for peace in Nigeria's various regions, including the President and First Lady.