Minister Warns Pilgrims Against Absconding(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has cautioned Christian pilgrims travelling to Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan to uphold national values.She also warned them to avoid any act of absconding, stressing the importance of representing Nigeria with dignity. Speaking during a pre-departure orientation in Abuja for more than 142 intending pilgrims, Mahmoud urged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and maintain personal and national dignity while in the Holy Land. The Acting Director of the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Gloria Dandam, reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance for abscondment. She stated that guarantors of pilgrims who failed to return would be held legally accountable. Dandam also noted that the FCT had maintained an excellent record in recent years, with no cases of pilgrims failing to return.