Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), addressed the nation's governance and security issues. Ugorji decried the rising insecurity, citing "senseless massacres" and kidnappings where armed men operate "boldly, freely, and unchallenged." He urged the government to implement proactive security measures, including modern surveillance technology and swift prosecution of terrorism perpetrators. The Archbishop called for ethical leadership and credible elections, warning that delays in prosecuting insurgents undermine public trust. Illegal mining was also condemned as "national economic sabotage" that contributes to terrorism and organized crime.
10 days ago
Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), delivered a major address at the CBCN’s 2026 first plenary meeting in Abuja.1
He described Nigeria as "continuing to bleed endlessly" amid rising insecurity, including senseless massacres, mass burials, kidnappings, and killings.1
Gun-wielding terrorists and bandits operate "boldly, freely, and unchallenged," exploiting security weaknesses to target vulnerable communities.1
Ugorji criticized reactive government responses and urged investments in modern surveillance, stronger intelligence, and swift prosecution of perpetrators and sponsors.1
He warned that delays in prosecuting terrorists or reintegrating insurgents erode public trust and suggest government complicity.1
Illegal mining causes $9 billion in annual losses and fuels terrorism, banditry, and organized crime through weapon purchases.1
It leads to environmental degradation, including soil/water contamination, biodiversity loss, and public health crises from hazardous chemicals.1
Ugorji called for aggressive measures like drone technology and AI to monitor sites.1
Poor leadership and a flawed view of politics as "rigging elections and stealing mandates" are root causes of Nigeria's afflictions.1
Despite abundant resources, wealth disparities widen, leaving many citizens behind.1
Ugorji emphasized that true leaders must prioritize the common good with moral integrity.1
Declining voter turnout undermines democracy and questions elected officials' legitimacy.1
He urged the National Assembly to mandate real-time transmission of election results to prevent manipulation, noting global and divine scrutiny.1
Ugorji acknowledged the 2025 Tax Act's reforms but highlighted risks to small businesses and rising living costs.1
He proclaimed a special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi for spiritual renewal, peace, and reconciliation.1
At the plenary's end, he announced stepping down as CBCN president, thanking members for their support.1
Catholic Church must guide Nigeria’s security and justice reforms
Nigeria faces escalating violence from terrorist groups, bandits, and herdsmen clashes, displacing millions and exacerbating poverty and corruption, as highlighted in recent episcopal statements. Catholic teachings emphasize that true peace stems from justice, fraternity, and dialogue, positioning the Church as a vital guide for security and justice reforms through moral leadership, interfaith partnership, and advocacy for the common good.
Nigeria's security challenges have reached unprecedented levels, with unabated attacks by groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State-West Africa Province in the northeast, armed herdsmen in the middle belt, and bandit kidnappings in the northwest. This has created around 3 million internally displaced persons, particularly affecting rural Christian communities in states like Benue. Economic policies, such as fuel subsidy removal and currency devaluation, have worsened poverty among the vulnerable while benefiting elites, rooted in "pervasive corruption and endemic poverty and a massive failure of governance."
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) echoes Nigerian bishops' pleas, noting that insecurity has "attained yet a higher scale than we had ever seen before," urging urgent action to prevent chaos. Pope John Paul II, addressing Nigerian bishops, stressed that such crises demand Church involvement to foster dialogue amid political transitions, ensuring changes occur "peacefully and without undue hardship to the weaker segments of the population."
"Insecurity has attained yet a higher scale than we had ever seen before in the land."
This violence undermines human dignity, a core concern in Catholic diplomacy, where the Church defends "human dignity and all forms of human social life" against disparities and instability.
Catholic doctrine inseparably links justice and peace, as prophesied in Isaiah: "Integrity will bring peace, justice give lasting security," a truth echoed by St. Thomas Aquinas and papal magisterium. Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti condemns violence manipulated through religion, calling for a "culture of dialogue" and fraternity that unites humanity as children of one Father. Peace is not mere absence of war but "the peaceful resolution of differences among nations" founded on law, justice, and human rights.
John Paul II clarified that peace requires defending justice and liberty, rejecting pacifism that masks cowardice while pursuing "truth, justice, freedom, and love." In Africa, he urged rejecting violence as a solution, promoting "genuine reconciliation" through brotherhood and solidarity. The Church's voice must amplify the poor's appeal for sharing, applying humanitarian law universally.
"The work of justice shall be peace, and the service of justice quietness, and security for ever."
These principles counter Nigeria's "relentless attacks on innocent and defenceless communities," demanding security rooted in moral order, not coercion alone.
The Church in Nigeria is uniquely positioned to guide reforms, with assets like Veritas University, justice and peace commissions, and interfaith networks. Nigerian bishops and the USCCB call for:
John Paul II instructed Nigerian bishops to lead through "constructive dialogue" on justice, human rights, and moral truth, building unity beyond national borders. The USCCB offers partnership with U.S. diplomacy, leveraging the Church's credibility to influence government. Pope Leo XIV's prayers for "security, justice, and peace" in Benue reinforce this mandate.
"The Catholic Church... is willing to channel its efforts and credibility to exert influence at the highest levels of government to affect change."
This guidance aligns with Fratelli Tutti's vision of global solidarity, where peoples' rights to land, housing, and work foster lasting peace.
Guided by Catholic teaching, reforms should prioritize:
| Reform Area | Church-Guided Principles | Supporting Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Security Decentralization | Subsidiarity and human security over absolute state sovereignty | Establish state police; empower local vigilantes ethically; end impunity. |
| Justice and Anti-Corruption | Moral law as foundation for democracy; preferential option for the poor | Prosecute corruption; ensure equitable resource distribution. |
| Economic Solidarity | Rights to work and dignified life; fraternity against extremism | Fund agricultural enterprises; protect vulnerable from policy shocks. |
| Interfaith Dialogue | Culture of encounter; reject religious violence | Church-led reconciliation; nine days of prayer as model. |
These echo calls for international consensus on justice, with the Church as "artisan of peace."
The Catholic Church must indeed guide Nigeria's reforms, offering moral clarity amid crisis through dialogue, solidarity, and advocacy, as evidenced by episcopal communiqués and papal teachings. By addressing root causes like corruption and poverty with justice, Nigeria can achieve Isaiah's vision of secure peace. Urgent ecclesial-U.S. partnership can stabilize Africa's most populous nation, fostering fraternity for all.