The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has warned that Nigeria risks collapse if corruption, insecurity, poverty and poor governance are not urgently addressed.
The Bishops raised the concert in a Communique titled “Hope Does Not Disappoint: Working Together for a Just Nation”, after their Second Plenary Meeting in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.They urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in hope, while demanding justice and reform.
The Bishops expressed concern over worsening insecurity, mass poverty, youth unemployment, failing health sector, and the steady decline in education, describing corruption and bad governance as the root of the nation’s crises.
The Communique further cautioned against Nigeria drifting towards a one-party state and insisted on urgent electoral reforms, including real-time electronic transmission and collation of results, as well as impartial appointments to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).On family life, the Catholic Bishops decried poor parenting, the spread of occult practices among youths, as well as the consequences of pornography and cybercrime.
They also reaffirmed the Church’s opposition to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), while urging childless couples to consider adoption and natural methods.Furthermore, the Bishops called for environmental justice in the Niger Delta, stronger support for agriculture, and end to exploitation by unregulated private ministries.
The Bishops stressed that true national renewal requires integrity, political education, and active civic participation.“Hope does not deceive; hope saves,” they declared, entrusting Nigeria’s future in God’s hands, while urging citizens to work towards a just and secure nation.
