The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has issued a stinging assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, warning that the country is drifting toward a state of emergency due to worsening economic hardship, insecurity, and a pervasive “culture of death.”
In a communiqué released at the end of their First 2026 Plenary Assembly, the bishops expressed grave concern over the “unbearable” cost of living, which they linked to the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira without adequate safety nets for the poor.
The communiqué, signed by the CBCN President and Secretary, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, and Donatus A. Ogun, respectively, noted that millions of Nigerians are currently trapped in a cycle of poverty, hunger, and despair. The bishops warned that the government’s economic policies have further widened the gap between the ruling elite and the suffering masses.
“The cry of the poor has reached a crescendo,” the communiqué stated. “Nigerians are being asked to make sacrifices while those in power live in opulence. This disconnect is not only unjust but a recipe for social unrest. The government must move beyond rhetoric and implement policies that put food on the tables of ordinary citizens.”
On the security front, the Catholic prelates lamented the continued activities of terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers across the country.
They specifically pointed to the “Tiger Base” atrocities in Imo and the recent reported assassination attempts on political figures like Peter Obi in Edo as evidence of a failing security architecture.
The bishops condemned what they termed the “culture of death,” where human life has become cheap. They called for a total overhaul of the security agencies to ensure that those paid to protect Nigerians do not become their oppressors.
“We are deeply saddened by reports of extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths in police units like the notorious Tiger Base. No Nigerian should be subjected to torture or killed without due process. The State bears a sacred duty to protect life, not to extinguish it,” the bishops added.
The CBCN also waded into the controversy surrounding the alleged alteration of the Tax Administration Act 2025. They threw their weight behind calls for transparency, noting that any tampering with laws after they have been passed by the National Assembly is a “betrayal of the democratic process.”
The bishops urged the judiciary, particularly the ECOWAS Court, to handle the matter with the urgency it deserves to restore public confidence in the rule of law.
The communiqué concluded with a call for a national moral rebirth. The bishops urged political leaders to shun corruption and land-grabbing, citing the Ajiran community murders in Lagos as a symptom of greed, and to lead with the fear of God.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. To save our democracy, we must return to the path of justice, equity, and the common good. We pray for our leaders to have the courage to do what is right for the people, and we stand in solidarity with all Nigerians who are suffering in these difficult times,” the statement read.
The bishops also expressed their condolences to the family of the late DIG Moses Jitoboh, whose legal battle against compulsory retirement they described as a testament to the need for institutional reform within the Nigeria Police Force.
