The federal government has deplored the refusal of six northern states including Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe and Kano to sponsor Christian pilgrimage from their states despite having significant percentage Christian population.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, disclosed this during the  official submission of 2014 Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NPC)'s Report by the Chairman of the Commission, Primate of Anglican. Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, and appealed to them to have a change of heart.

Anyim assured that government would continue to persuade the state governors to do the needful, saying that "Christian pilgrimage is not tourism but a religious exercise that will benefit the individuals and the state."

He commended the commission for a job well done, adding that the pilgrimage project has taken a dimension that nobody expected before.

He said:  "It has Easter, family, presidential  and now the youth component. Pilgrimage is not sight seeing, tourism or excursion, the presidential pilgrimage alone has created diplomatic access. For the youth pilgrimage, the more young people are involve the more our country will be better.

"I am happy that the number of self sponsorship has increased by 50 per cent, this is something that couldn't have been imagine years back. It will be government's interest  that the self sponsorship increases as that will help government cut down its expenses also.

"Today, we no longer talk of abscondment, this year we had zero mortality, these are all things to be proud of and we congratulate you for this.
Source: http://ereporter.com.ng/index.php/national-news/item/2669-fg-condemns-refusal-of-six-northern-states-to-sponsor-christian-pilgrimage