NCPC Tackles Pilgrims Abscondment With Whistleblower Policy, Stricter Screening

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has announced plans to implement a whistle-blowing system to identify and address staff involved in aiding pilgrims’ abscondment. This decision emerged from a four-day Retreat held in Jos and communicated to the press in Abuja on Saturday.

The communiqué emphasized the need for thorough physical screening or Zoom sessions for all intending pilgrims to meet visa application deadlines. It highlighted the intention to establish a whistle-blowing mechanism that ensures effective screening at various operational levels.

The statement outlined the adoption of senior and experienced officers to oversee screening exercises to prevent incidents of abscondment. It also advocated for the harmonization and Commission’s approval of forms used by State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Boards (SCPWBs).

It underscored the significance of perceiving pilgrims airlifted by the Commission as Nigerian pilgrims, urging SCPWBs to collaborate with the Commission to ensure smooth pilgrimages without abscondments.

Furthermore, it stressed the need for SCPWBs to coordinate closely with NCPC staff to guarantee a seamless pilgrimage. The communiqué also outlined stringent measures to prevent abscondment, including limiting guarantees by SCPWBs and monitoring pilgrims suspected of absconding.

It called for increased staff presence in buses to prevent escape attempts, intensified intelligence gathering on pilgrims with multiple passports, and thorough scrutiny of renewed passports to curb abscondment.

Additionally, the communiqué emphasized the issuance of visas to Commission staff to enhance their relevance and movement convenience. It concluded by advocating continuous re-evaluation of screening reports and visa procurement lists to maintain vigilance and control abscondment attempts. (NAN)