Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Pastor Jerry Eze has apologised to worshippers who were unable to enter the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium after the gathering attracted a crowd that exceeded available capacity.
The prayer conference, organised by Streams of Joy International, took place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the 74,000-capacity stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom.
The free event brought together worshippers from across Britain and other parts of the world for prayer and worship, with Nigerian gospel ministers including Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan, Sunmisola Agbebi and Kaestrings also featuring in the programme.
Jerry Eze apologises to affected worshippers
Eze addressed the situation during an NSPPD prayer session and later in a video message shared on social media.
The pastor apologised to people who had travelled long distances to attend the conference but were unable to gain access to the stadium.
According to Eze, some of those affected had travelled from countries including Australia, North Macedonia and Sweden.
He described the number of people turned away as “tens of thousands” and said he was deeply sorry for the disappointment experienced by those who had made the journey.
Eze said the circumstances were beyond his control and that of Streams of Joy International, while acknowledging the frustration expressed by affected attendees online.
He also assured worshippers that lessons would be taken from the incident and that the organisers would work to prevent a similar situation at future gatherings.
Conference had limited spaces
The NSPPD UK Prayer Conference was advertised as a free event, but attendees were required to register in advance because of limited capacity.
The official event listing described the September 26 gathering as a free conference at Manchester United’s Old Trafford, with advance registration required. The listing showed that available tickets had sold out.
Reports before and after the conference indicated that demand was extremely high, with social media users seeking available tickets after registration spaces had been filled.
Premier Christian News reported that the event had been advertised with 50,000 free tickets available. The publication also noted that the number of people who were ultimately unable to enter has not been independently confirmed.
That distinction is important because Eze’s reference to “tens of thousands” represents his account of the situation rather than an independently verified attendance or exclusion figure.
Old Trafford becomes a prayer venue
The conference transformed one of football’s most recognisable stadiums into a large Christian worship venue.
Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, has a capacity of roughly 74,000 and hosted worshippers instead of a football crowd for the NSPPD gathering.
Images and videos from the event showed large numbers of worshippers inside the stadium, while reports and footage also showed crowds outside the venue.
The event featured prayer, worship and music, with several prominent Nigerian gospel ministers joining Eze.
Among those listed as part of the programme were Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan, Sunmisola Agbebi and Kaestrings.
Eze promises lessons will be learnt
In his apology, Eze said the experience had highlighted the need for organisers to take greater account of the scale of demand when planning future gatherings.
He told worshippers that the situation would not be repeated and said organisers would take the experience into consideration ahead of the next UK conference.
Eze also acknowledged the disappointment expressed by people who had posted about their experiences on social media.
The apology came after reports of worshippers travelling considerable distances only to be unable to enter the stadium. Premier Christian News said it had contacted stadium representatives for clarification regarding the circumstances surrounding those who could not gain entry.
A growing international NSPPD audience
The Old Trafford gathering reflects the international reach that NSPPD has developed beyond its Nigerian base.
The New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations platform, widely known as NSPPD, is associated with Eze and Streams of Joy International and has built a substantial audience through prayer broadcasts and physical gatherings.
The Manchester conference attracted worshippers from different parts of the United Kingdom and other countries, demonstrating the international audience surrounding the prayer movement.
The event also follows other large-scale NSPPD gatherings outside Nigeria. Premier Christian News noted that an NSPPD gathering at Twickenham Stadium in London in 2024 attracted an estimated 80,000 people.
What happens next
Eze has indicated that organisers will use the Old Trafford experience to improve arrangements for future gatherings.
For affected worshippers, however, questions remain about the circumstances that led to people being unable to enter despite advance registration.
The precise number of people denied entry has not been independently established, and further clarification from the venue or event organisers would be needed to determine the scale and cause of the access problem.
For now, Eze has publicly apologised and promised that organisers will take lessons from the incident before the next UK gathering.
The Old Trafford conference therefore leaves two significant aspects of the event in focus: the substantial international turnout for NSPPD and the logistical challenges that emerged when demand placed pressure on the available capacity.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch — reporting on Pastor Jerry Eze’s apology and the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford.
- Premier Christian News — report on the apology, event capacity and the lack of independent confirmation of the number turned away.
- WuzupNigeria — additional reporting on Eze’s apology and the conference.
- Eventbrite — event listing for the NSPPD United Kingdom Prayer Conference 2026, organised by Streams of Joy International.
