The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has raised the alarm that the Nigerian economic situation, which has been experiencing hardship, insecurity, and youth unemployment have reached disturbing levels despite recent government reforms.
The Bishops, who raised the alarm during the 2025 First Plenary Meeting of the CBCN in Abuja on Sunday, expressed grave concern on rising poverty, food inflation, kidnappings and the deplorable state of correctional facilities and called for urgent and decisive actions to address the crisis.
The Bishops urged the Nigerian government to tackle the root causes of economic hardship and insecurity, emphasizing that millions of Nigerians were suffering under extreme conditions of poverty and fear.
Speaking on the state of the nation, the President of CBCN and Archbishop of Owerri Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, acknowledged some of the government’s economic and fiscal reforms, such as road rehabilitation, the student loan scheme, and debt servicing reduction.
“While we recognise the government’s efforts in implementing certain reforms, the reality remains that most Nigerians are struggling more than ever before.
“Food inflation has hit 39.84 percent, making it nearly impossible for families to afford three meals a day. The statistics are alarming, 129 million Nigerians are now living in multidimensional poverty. Palliatives and temporary relief programmes are not enough. We need sustainable solutions that address the root causes of economic hardship,” he said.
The Bishops also raised alarms over worsening insecurity, with violent attacks by Boko Haram, bandits, and unknown gunmen increasing across the country. They noted that kidnappings for ransom have escalated, with religious leaders among the latest targets.
The meeting was attended by top religious leaders, including Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja.
GIK/APA