A delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri, met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday, 14 March 2025. The primary purpose of the visit was, as a follow up to their deliberations at the just concluded plenary, to intimate the President of the plight of Nigerians and to urge government to take swift action to make things better for the people.
Towards this end, the bishops highlighted the pressing challenges facing Nigerians, tasking the government to take decisive action to address issues of security, economic hardship, education, healthcare, human rights, and religious freedom. While acknowledging the efforts of the government and security agencies in combating insecurity, the CBCN tasked the government to do more, emphasising the grave threats many Nigerians continue to endure in their fatherland due to the escalating incidents of banditry, kidnapping, and senseless killings.
They expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of abduction and murder of priests, seminarians and church workers. They noted that over the past decade, there have been several fatalities with at least 204 Catholic priests and seminarians abducted by religious extremists and non state actors. No fewer than 15 persons have been brutally killed while in captivity, while at least three others died from trauma after their release. In a tragic development, earlier on the day of the visit, Peter Andrew, a seminarian who was kidnapped along with a priest, was killed in Auchi, Edo State.
This followed, too soon, the brutal murder of Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu, a priest of Kafanchan Diocese, on Wednesday 5 March, 2025. Beyond security concerns, the CBCN addressed the economic hardship induced by the removal of the fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira. They stressed the need for government to urgently come up with policies that would reverse the ugly trend and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable. Additionally, the bishops appealed to the President to ensure that there is equitable access to education and healthcare, advocating for increased investment in these sectors.
They also raised concerns about religious freedom, calling specifically for justice and fairness in the treatment of Christian minorities in northern Nigeria and regarding land allocation for places of worship. President Tinubu listened attentively to the concerns raised by the bishops and engaged them in meaningful discussions. In response to the challenges raised by the prelates, the President acknowledged the hardships faced by citizens and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, stabilizing the economy, and fostering national unity.
He commended the Catholic Church for its significant contributions to the nation particularly in the areas of education and health and assured the delegation of his openness to collaboration with stakeholders to advance the nation’s welfare. Amid prevailing challenges, the engagement at the State House underscored the Church’s commitment to working, through dialogue, for justice, peace, and sustainable national development.
