Rev. Samson Ayokunle, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called for robust partnership between the association and Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) to explore ways of funding pilgrimages to enable more Christians to participate.

Ayokunle made the call in Abuja on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev. Tor Uja.

He said that the high cost of undertaking pilgrimages had limited the number of Christians willing to go for pilgrimages.

Ayokunle appealed to the Federal Government to sponsor more Christians to go for pilgrimages to enhance their religious obligations and pray for the country.

“The government cannot completely hands off funding of Christian pilgrimage.

“Government must fund Christian pilgrimage to encourage Nigerian Christians to go and pray for the nation,” he said.

In his remark, Uja said that with the state of the economy it was no longer realistic for the Federal Government to solely sponsor pilgrimages.

He said there was need for the church in Nigeria to build an economy to support global activities.

“The church can contribute in building Nigeria’s economy. There has been a revolution in the church in the last three decades,” he said.

The secretary urged CAN to source for sponsorship of 1,000 Christians to pilgrimages yearly.

Uja also advised politicians and other stakeholders to sponsor Christians to the Jerusalem to pray for the country to have a peaceful conduct of 2019 general elections.