During the 2025 First Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) held in Abuja, top religious leaders issued a stark warning about Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic conditions.
The bishops, including Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, Archbishop Daniel Okoh of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, decried the rising levels of poverty, food inflation, and insecurity plaguing the nation.
They noted that food inflation has reached nearly 40 percent, with an estimated 129 million Nigerians now living in multidimensional poverty.
The clergy highlighted alarming trends such as rampant kidnappings, deteriorating correctional facilities, and escalating violence by insurgents, bandits, and unidentified gunmen that have even targeted religious leaders.
Emphasizing the urgency for sustainable solutions, the bishops urged the government to enhance security efforts, invest in intelligence, and implement robust job creation and vocational training programs to combat youth unemployment—currently at 53 percent.
They also called for comprehensive judicial reforms and improvements in prison conditions to uphold human rights and restore dignity.
The assembly concluded by urging national unity and decisive government action to address these deep-rooted challenges before the situation deteriorates further.
