The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has issued a stark warning about the state of Nigeria’s economy and governance, calling for urgent action to address the nation’s growing challenges. The warning came during the CBCN’s first plenary meeting of 2025 held in Abuja over the weekend.
In his opening address, CBCN President Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru highlighted key issues including youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud. He urged the country’s leaders to take swift action to prevent further decline.
Responding to the bishops’ concerns, President Bola Tinubu expressed gratitude for their continued engagement in national issues. “The Conference of Catholic Bishops’ patriotic commitment to national unity, peace, and stability is deeply valued and respected by the government,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Onanuga noted that while governance challenges persist, Nigeria has made significant progress since Tinubu assumed office 22 months ago. He pointed to improvements in national security, citing the elimination of over 8,000 criminals and the rescue of more than 10,000 abducted Nigerians, which has enabled farmers in conflict-prone regions to return to their fields.
On the economic front, Onanuga highlighted progress in stabilising the economy, increased local refining capacity through the Dangote and NNPCL refineries, and stronger foreign reserves. He also mentioned several government programmes, including 3MTT, NATEP, and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, which aim to create over 10 million jobs for young people.
International recognition of Nigeria’s economic progress was underscored by Chatham House, which recently praised Tinubu’s reforms as the most competitive economic management seen in 25 years.
Despite acknowledging the ongoing difficulties faced by Nigerians, Onanuga stressed that the government remains committed to implementing reforms that will lead to long-term prosperity.
