By Nworisa Michael
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship and what it described as persistent bad leadership, urging citizens and government alike to commit to national renewal anchored on the common good.
The call formed part of a communiqué issued at the end of the bishops’ First Plenary Meeting of 2026, held from February 19 to 26 at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) Resource Centre in Durumi, Abuja.
In the communiqué, the bishops emphasised repentance as a necessary complement to the traditional Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. They urged Nigerians to embrace sincere moral conversion as a pathway to social transformation.
The conference also drew attention to the coincidence of the Christian Lenten season and the Muslim Ramadan fast this year, describing it as providential. The bishops said the overlap offers Christians and Muslims a unique opportunity to seek God together and collaborate in building a more peaceful and just society.
On governance, the CBCN stressed that responsible citizenship and responsible leadership are indispensable to national development. According to the bishops, the good of individuals cannot be separated from the good of the community, adding that leadership must prioritise societal welfare above personal or sectional interests.
Addressing the security situation, the bishops acknowledged government efforts but said the country is still grappling with gruesome killings and mass displacement of vulnerable communities. They called for proactive intelligence gathering, the deployment of modern security tools and the prompt prosecution of perpetrators. The communiqué warned against approaches that appear to reward criminality without ensuring justice.
The bishops also lamented what they termed socioeconomic sabotage, noting that despite Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources, exploitation continues to benefit private interests while public borrowing rises with limited impact on development.
They attributed many of the nation’s challenges to bad leadership and a flawed political culture, citing corruption, election rigging, entrenched poverty, infrastructural decay and alleged manipulation of key institutions as factors undermining national progress.
The conference welcomed the proclamation by Pope Francis of a Special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, scheduled from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, marking 800 years since the saint’s death. The bishops noted that local celebrations following the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope continue to strengthen faith communities across Nigeria.
The CBCN also thanked its outgoing executive members and announced newly elected officers, including Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna as President and Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos as Vice President, alongside other principal officers.
Concluding the communiqué, the bishops expressed hope for a better Nigeria, affirming that meaningful national transformation is possible if citizens and leaders alike embrace competence, accountability, altruism and a genuine commitment to the common good.
