Catholic Bishops Warns FG Of Crisis Over Youth Unemployment
Catholic bishops in Nigeria have raised concerns over an impending national crisis, warning that rising youth unemployment and widespread frustration with governance could push the country toward chaos.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Abuja on Sunday, the bishops urged political leaders to take immediate action before the situation spirals out of control.
CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s economic and social challenges, highlighting that the youth unemployment rate—currently at 53 per cent—is a ticking time bomb.
“The surge in criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, internet fraud, drug abuse, cultism, and ritual killings is directly linked to the despair faced by millions of jobless young Nigerians,” Ugorji stated.
He further warned that the situation has been worsened by mass layoffs as many companies collapse under the weight of a harsh economic climate.
“Many unemployed youths now resort to pagan shrines, ritual killings, and human sacrifices in search of instant wealth, while others are easy recruits for violent gangs and terror groups,” he lamented.
The CBCN president emphasised that the government must prioritise job creation. “We cannot be tired of urging the government at all levels to take youth unemployment seriously. Until there is a massive, ongoing creation of jobs, the government may continue to lose the war against insecurity and violent crime,” he cautioned.
Beyond economic hardship, the bishops also expressed deep concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security situation and the deplorable conditions of correctional centres across the country.
Ugorji reminded the audience that the 2019 Nigerian Correctional Services Act was meant to transform prisons into rehabilitation centres, but poor implementation has rendered it ineffective.
“The government must rise above these challenges and provide necessary solutions,” he urged.
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The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, called for a shift from superficial religious displays to true spirituality and national transformation.
He criticised the competition for religious supremacy, extravagant places of worship, and empty symbols that fail to address Nigeria’s moral and economic decay.
“As we journey towards Easter, let us pray for our country. But beyond prayers, we must lead by example in honesty, service, and love. We must demand justice, advocate for the poor, and reject all forms of oppression. A new Nigeria is possible if we, as God’s people, take responsibility for building it,” Kaigama stated.
He also described as shameful the tragic incident where people were crushed to death while scrambling for food in Abuja last Christmas, stressing that such tragedies should not occur in a country blessed with abundant resources.
In his remarks, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, acknowledged the deep frustrations of Nigerians who are struggling with hunger, poverty, insecurity, and disease.
He urged religious leaders to provide hope and strong leadership in tackling the country’s moral and economic decline.
“As you deliberate on the way forward for the Church and our nation, I pray that the Holy Spirit grants you wisdom, strength, and renewed courage to be bearers of hope in these difficult times,” Okoh said.
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