By Hosea Parah, Abuja
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission recently concluded a 4-day retreat at Crest Hotel in Jos, Plateau State. The retreat aimed to enhance the capacity of the Commission’s workforce and address various issues related to Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria. At the end of the retreat, several resolutions were reached, highlighting the commitment of the Commission to improving pilgrimage processes and minimizing abscondments.
One of the key resolutions was the need for stronger linkages between the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards. By fostering collaboration and cooperation, the Commission aims to achieve more positive outcomes in the overall pilgrimage process.
To prevent incidents of abscondments, the retreat participants emphasized that all screening exercises should be led by senior and experienced officers. This measure is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the screening process and minimize the risk of individuals absconding during the pilgrimage.
The Commission also recognized the importance of evolving an effective screening system at different levels of its operations. By implementing a robust screening mechanism, the Commission aims to ensure the thorough examination of all intending pilgrims.
In a bid to address any potential involvement of Commission staff in aiding abscondment, the resolution called for the design and development of a whistle-blowing mechanism. This system will enable the reporting of any staff members suspected of assisting pilgrims in absconding.
To streamline the screening process and ensure timely completion, the Commission resolved that where physical screening is not possible, intending pilgrims should be screened via video conferencing platforms such as Zoom. This measure is aimed at beating visa application deadlines while maintaining a thorough screening process.
Harmonizing pilgrim forms used by State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards across various states was also highlighted as a priority. The Commission stressed the importance of carefully and thoroughly aligning these forms, ensuring they are approved by the Commission before use.
Furthermore, the Commission emphasized that screening officers should not solely rely on the statement of accounts during the screening process. This resolution aims to ensure a more comprehensive assessment of intending pilgrims.
The retreat also emphasized the need for State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards to view pilgrims airlifted by the Commission as Nigerian pilgrims rather than belonging to a specific state. This shift in perspective is expected to foster collaboration between the Commission and State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, ultimately minimizing abscondments.
The resolutions also addressed the role of guarantors, stating that any Secretary of a State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board should not guarantee more than two pilgrims. If there is a need for additional guarantees, a written undertaking must be submitted to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for review and approval.
Additionally, the retreat highlighted the importance of staff on screening assignments leveraging the knowledge of local staff in Zonal Offices. This collaboration is seen as crucial in guiding screening officers and ensuring a more effective process.
To enhance monitoring, the resolution stated that at least one staff member involved in the screening process should accompany the screened pilgrims during their travels. This measure allows for the application of knowledge gained during screening in monitoring the pilgrims.
Other resolutions included increasing the staff ratio in buses to curtail escape attempts, emphasizing thorough report writing for screening assignments, intensifying intelligence gathering on pilgrims with two passports, and involving ground handlers in obtaining information from hotels regarding secret exits.
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission expressed its commitment to continuously re-evaluating screening reports and the list of names sent for visa procurement. This measure aims to eliminate errors and potential absconders from the visa lists.
Finally, the importance of trend analysis regarding abscondment was highlighted, indicating a shift in abscond