Catholic bishops in Nigeria have raised urgent concerns about a potential national crisis, citing worsening youth unemployment and widespread dissatisfaction with governance as key factors that could plunge the country into chaos.
During the opening of the 2025 first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Abuja, the bishops called on political leaders to take immediate and effective action to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, the CBCN President, highlighted the dire economic and social challenges facing the nation, particularly the alarming youth unemployment rate, which stands at 53 percent. He warned that this crisis is a “ticking time bomb” for the nation.
Ugorji noted that the rise in criminal activities—such as kidnapping, armed robbery, internet fraud, drug abuse, cultism, and ritual killings—is directly linked to the despair felt by millions of jobless young Nigerians. He pointed out that many unemployed youths are turning to pagan practices, ritual killings, and human sacrifices in their desperate quest for instant wealth, while others become easy recruits for violent gangs and terrorist organizations.
“The situation is exacerbated by mass layoffs resulting from the collapse of numerous companies due to a harsh economic climate,” he stated. He emphasized that until the government prioritizes job creation, it will struggle to curb insecurity and violent crime.
In addition to economic concerns, the bishops expressed alarm over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation and the poor conditions of correctional facilities across the country. Ugorji recalled that the 2019 Nigerian Correctional Services Act, designed to transform prisons into rehabilitation centers, has not been effectively implemented.
“The government must rise above these challenges and provide real solutions,” he urged.
Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, called for a shift from superficial religious displays to genuine spirituality and national transformation. He criticized the competition for religious dominance and the extravagant places of worship that do little to address Nigeria’s moral and economic decline.
As the country approaches Easter, Kaigama urged citizens to pray for Nigeria while also leading by example through honesty, service, and love. “We must demand justice, advocate for the poor, and reject all forms of oppression. A new Nigeria is possible if we, as God’s people, take responsibility for building it,” he asserted.
Kaigama also expressed outrage over the tragic incident last Christmas, where people died while scrambling for food in Abuja, emphasizing that such events should not occur in a nation rich in resources.
Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), echoed these sentiments, lamenting that many Nigerians have reached their breaking point due to hunger, poverty, insecurity, and disease. He called on religious leaders to instill hope and provide courageous leadership in tackling the country’s moral and economic challenges.
“As you deliberate on the way forward for the church and our nation, I pray that the Holy Spirit grants you wisdom, strength, and renewed courage to be bearers of hope in these difficult times,” Okoh concluded.
