By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The Nigerian government has suspended all Christian pilgrimages to Israel and the occupied West Bank with immediate effect, citing a sharp deterioration in regional security.
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), the statutory body managing these travels, announced the directive on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. In a formal statement, the commission emphasized that the move was mandatory to prioritize the “safety and comfort” of Nigerian citizens.
Evacuations amid regional escalation
The decision follows a dramatic expansion of hostilities in the Middle East. The conflict escalated significantly following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that resulted in the death of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Tehran has launched a series of attacks targeting Israel and U.S.-allied states across the Gulf.
The resulting instability has crippled regional travel, with multiple nations closing their airspace and airlines canceling hundreds of flights. Rev John Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria that approximately 600 Nigerian pilgrims currently in Israel and the West Bank had been successfully moved. They were “evacuated to Jordan and then back to Nigeria since the conflict broke out on Saturday,” Hayab confirmed.
The suspension applies to all state-sponsored delegations as well as private tour operators. Authorities noted that the ban will remain active until the regional security situation stabilizes.
Spiritual and economic toll
For many in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, the suspension disrupts a deeply rooted religious tradition. Thousands of Nigerian Christians go on pilgrimages each year to Biblical sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. These journeys, frequently subsidized by state governments, are central to the religious life of the country’s large Christian population, particularly in the south.
With Easter just one month away—traditionally the peak season for travel to the Holy Land—the timing of the ban is particularly impactful for those who have spent years saving for the trip.
Muslim travel also disrupted
The crisis has not been limited to Christian travelers. Nigerian Muslims seeking to perform Umrah, or the “lesser” pilgrimage, in Mecca are facing similar hurdles due to the regional flight cancellations. Unlike the annual Hajj, which is bound by specific dates, Umrah is a shorter rite that can be performed year-round.
The impact is being felt acutely in northern hubs like Kano. Alhaji Zaharaddeen Abubakar, who had already secured accommodation and tickets for Mecca, is among those now stranded. “I wish to be there too but I can’t at the moment. I’m still hoping,” Abubakar noted.
The disruption has left travel agencies struggling to manage the logistics of grounded passengers. Alhaji Musa Rabi’u Muhammed, head of the Murna travel agency in Kano State, said “Some of our people had even boarded planes ready for take-off, but they had to be brought back down, and now they are at home.”
A continent in waiting
The suspension underscores the profound connection between African spiritual life and Middle Eastern stability. From the cathedrals of Lagos to the mosques of Kano and the religious hubs of Ghana, millions across the continent now watch the unfolding crisis with a shared sense of uncertainty. For these faithful, the closure of holy sites represents more than a logistical hurdle; it is a painful pause in a sacred journey, leaving many to hope that diplomacy will soon restore the path to their holiest lands.
