Catholic Bishops raise alarm over economic hardship, insecurity in Nigeria

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating economic conditions and escalating insecurity affecting millions of Nigerians, blaming the crisis on the economic policies implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking at the opening session of the CBCN’s 2025 First Plenary Meeting held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) in Abuja on Sunday, the CBCN President and Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, lamented the severe impact of the government’s economic reforms on the population.

“While the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration aim at stabilizing the economy in the long term, they have significantly triggered sky-rocketing inflation, drastically reduced the purchasing power of Nigerians, and plunged millions into poverty,” Ugorji stated.

He referenced alarming statistics from global and national reports, including the World Bank’s projection that 129 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line and the 2024 Global Report on Food Crisis, which ranked Nigeria as the second most food-insecure nation in the world, with 24 million people facing acute food shortages.

Further highlighting the economic strain, Ugorji cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which revealed that food inflation reached a staggering 39.84% in December 2024.

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He noted that Nigerians now spend approximately 65% of their income on food alone, often at the expense of healthcare, education, and other essential needs.

While acknowledging the government’s efforts to address the crisis through palliative measures, duty waivers on imported food items, and other interventions, Ugorji described these measures as grossly inadequate.

“Government’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of the citizenry have remained the tip of the iceberg.

As Nigerians continue to suffer and die, the resultant daily stress is taking a heavy toll on the mental health of many parents, who overstretch themselves just to make ends meet,” he said.

Despite the grim outlook, the CBCN President recognized some positive steps taken by the government, such as the rehabilitation of dilapidated roads, the construction of new infrastructure, the introduction of a student loan scheme, the new minimum wage, and a reduction in the percentage of national revenue spent on debt servicing from 97% to 68%.

However, he insisted that these efforts have done little to brighten the nation’s prospects.

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“Despite all these, the state of the nation remains bleak, as dark clouds of uncertainty and despondency continue to gather,” Ugorji warned.

Beyond economic concerns, the bishops raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, which continues to be dominated by insurgents, bandits, and other criminal groups.

“The scourge of insecurity persists and is even getting worse across the nation. The ‘armies’ of Boko Haram, bandits, and unknown gunmen continue to grow in number and in acts of wickedness and barbarism. Kidnapping for ransom and the mindless killing of innocent people are on the rise, with priests and religious leaders increasingly being targeted.”

Also speaking at the event, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, echoed Ugorji’s concerns, calling for national reflection and spiritual renewal.

Okoh emphasized that the theme of the plenary session, “Jubilee of Hope: A Light for a Better Nigeria,” serves as a call for all Nigerians to seek divine intervention, strengthen their faith, and foster unity and compassion among themselves.

As the country continues to grapple with economic and security challenges, the Catholic bishops urged the government to take immediate and decisive action to ease the suffering of Nigerians and restore hope for a better future.