17th October, 2015
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Ogun State Chairman of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, CPWB, Archbishop Oludotun Ogunseye has stated that pregnant women and those with critical health conditions would not be allowed to participate in this years’ holy pilgrimage.
The Clergyman also charged intending pilgrims to furnish the board with adequate information concerning their health status and other related issues as requested by the screening committee.
The Chairman gave the charge while addressing participants at the ongoing screening exercise for intending pilgrims held at the board’s office in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Archbishop Ogunseye disclosed that the information required from the intending pilgrims are needed in order to properly take care of them while in the holy land.
In a statement signed by the Press Officer of the Board, Tosin Koletowo, the Chairman added that it is mandatory for intending pilgrims to undergo thorough medical check-up in order to ascertain their health status.
“The screening is for us to ascertain the level of their health status because pilgrimage is an exercise that needs strength. The non-eligibility of pregnant women and people with critical health conditions was as a result of the rigorous exercise that the pilgrims
would undergo while performing the spiritual exercise,” Ogunseye said.
The Christian Pilgrims Board screening committee is made up of representatives of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Nigerian Custom Service, State Security Service, SSS, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS,
Nigerian Police Force, NPF, and health officers.