1
The Catholic Bishops of the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province have decried the worsening insecurity, deepening poverty and what they described as failure of governance in Nigeria.
They called for urgent reforms to restore public safety and strengthen the nation’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The bishops made their position known in a communiqué issued at the end of their first meeting of the year held on February 5, 2026, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos.
The meeting brought together bishops of the province comprising the Archdiocese of Lagos, Diocese of Abeokuta and Diocese of Ijebu-Ode.
Also in attendance were leaders and representatives of the clergy, consecrated persons and various lay organisations, who presented reports on their activities for the year under review.
In their New Year message, the bishops wished Nigerians a grace-filled and prosperous 2026, thanking God for the gift of a new year and praying for divine guidance and blessings upon the country.
They expressed gratitude for what they described as visible growth and vitality within the Church in the Lagos Province, citing encouraging developments in faith formation, pastoral outreach and communal life.
The bishops commended the clergy, religious and lay faithful for their dedication to evangelisation, charity and the building of vibrant Christian communities, urging them to persevere in promoting justice, peace and solidarity with the suffering.
The communiqué also acknowledged the leadership of Pope Leo XIV and welcomed his proclamation of a Special Year dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.
The bishops encouraged the faithful to take advantage of the spiritual opportunities and indulgences associated with the special year as a time of renewal and deeper commitment to works of mercy.
However, the tone of the communiqué turned sombre as the bishops addressed the state of the nation.
They condemned what they described as the “pervasive and deepening sufferings” of Nigerians, pointing to rising poverty, unprecedented insecurity and the epidemic of kidnappings for ransom that have created widespread fear and despair.
According to them, the continued existence of internally displaced persons across parts of the country is evidence that more decisive action is needed to restore order.
They lamented that no segment of society — including religious leaders, community heads, security personnel and the elite — has been spared from the violence.
The bishops expressed grave concern over what they termed an astronomical rise in banditry and wanton killings, particularly targeted attacks on Christian communities in several states, including Kwara, Oyo, Ondo, Benue and Plateau, as well as parts of Northern Nigeria.
They described the killings as not mere statistics but the loss of brothers and sisters whose blood “cries to heaven for justice,” warning that the apparent impunity of perpetrators undermines the nation’s moral and legal foundations.
On governance, the bishops stated that both federal and state governments were not doing enough to address the raging insecurity.
They stressed that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property, noting that the regular killing of citizens in homes, farms and highways represents a fundamental failure of that duty.
They called for a decisive and intelligent security strategy capable of dismantling criminal networks and safe havens, while also addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment and communal grievances.
The communiqué acknowledged the support of the United States and other international partners in assisting Nigeria to combat insecurity.
However, the bishops insisted that such collaboration must respect national sovereignty, be transparent and focus primarily on protecting vulnerable civilian populations.
They further urged the international community to assist Nigerian law enforcement agencies, including the DSS and EFCC, with intelligence to identify and prosecute individuals who sponsor criminal activities, stressing that accountability is essential for deterrence and justice.
With national elections less than a year away, the bishops also turned attention to the need for electoral reforms.
Recalling the irregularities that marred the 2023 general elections, they called for urgent steps to close loopholes that enable electoral fraud.
Specifically, they urged the Senate to pass legislation mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a critical reform necessary to restore public trust and safeguard the integrity of the 2027 polls.
They equally encouraged eligible Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process and to elect credible leaders capable of delivering good governance and improved living conditions.
In their concluding message, the bishops urged Nigerians not to give in to despair or hatred despite the prevailing challenges.
They reiterated their call for comprehensive socio-economic reforms to lift citizens out of poverty and appealed to security agencies to carry out their constitutional responsibilities with professionalism and respect for human rights.
They also called on Catholics and all people of goodwill to intensify prayers for the nation — for the conversion of those who perpetuate violence, for comfort for the bereaved, for the release of captives and for wisdom and courage for leaders.
The communiqué was signed by the Archbishop of Lagos and Metropolitan of the Province, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, and the Bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Most Rev. (Dr.) Francis Obafemi Adesina.
