2025 Pilgrimage Exercise: NCPC Opens Bid For Ground Handling And Airlifting 

By Chinedu Echianu

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, (NCPC) has opened bid for the expression of interest for the 2025 Pilgrimage exercise for ground handling and airlifting with service providers.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite said with the successful completion of the 2024 Main Pilgrimage exercise, the commission is set to begin a fresh procurement process for the 2025 Pilgrimage exercise in line with the procurement Act.

According to a statement signed by Celestine Toruka, Deputy Director and Head Media and Public Relations, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Bishop Adegbite emphasized that the just concluded 2024 Main Pilgrimage exercise has been rated the best ever pilgrimage exercise conducted by the Commission, but added that there is still room for improvement.

He stated that all the service providers who participated in the last Main Pilgrimage exercise performed excellently. The NCPC boss maintained that for the Commission to achieve its set objectives of service satisfaction for pilgrims, everything must be done with the fear of God, insisting that no service provider should cheat the NCPC, just as the Commission would not do same.

He hinted that in the last pilgrimage exercise, the Commission paid 80 percent up front to the service providers to ensure there was no service failure, affirming that the mandate of the President is to make sure the Pilgrims have the best in terms of service.and in alignment to the rules and procedures of procurement and due process.

The Executive Secretary assured that the Commission would continue to open bids for service providers every year because the Commission is determined to be open and transparent in it’s dealings as far as procurement for its services are concerned.

The bid opening was witnessed by officials from the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, an official from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as well as observers from civil society organizations.

They all commended NCPC for transparent and open bid process and for providing a conducive environment for clear procurement process to thrive in the Commission.

Additionally, they commended the Commission for organizing a bid opening exercise in the full glare of everybody, stating that they were satisfied with the success of the exercise.

About 9 ground handlers and one air carrier participated in the NCPC 2025 bid opening for service providers.