Catholic Bishops meet Tinubu over US religious freedom concerns
A delegation of Catholic Bishops, Friday, met with President Bola Tinubu over the insecurity situation in the country.
The visit came in the wake of the United States’ decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over allegations that Christians are being targeted and killed.
The delegation was led by CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri Archdiocese, alongside Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Bishop Emeritus John Cardinal Onaiyekan of Abuja Archdiocese. While the meeting was held behind closed doors, its agenda was not disclosed at press time.
The U.S. Congress has repeatedly raised concerns about religious freedom in Nigeria, leading to previous CPC designations. In 2018, during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Washington, then-U.S. President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of persecuting Christians.
The latest U.S. designation has renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s handling of religious freedom, particularly amid ongoing security challenges and reports of targeted attacks.
At the CBCN’s first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja over the weekend, Archbishop Ugorji highlighted Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and governance challenges. He pointed to youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud as critical issues that must be addressed.
He urged the government to take swift action, warning that continued neglect could lead to further national decline.
In response to the bishops’ concerns, the Presidency acknowledged governance challenges but insisted that President Tinubu’s administration had made significant progress in the past 22 months.
“President Bola Tinubu deeply appreciates the constant interventions of the Catholic Bishops in matters of governance. Their commitment to national unity, peace, and stability is unassailable and highly valued by the government,” the Presidency stated.
On security, the government claimed that Nigeria is more secure today than it was in 2023, citing the elimination of over 8,000 criminals, including Boko Haram terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits. It also highlighted the rescue of 10,000 Nigerians, mainly women and children, from captivity.
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The Presidency further stated that improved security in the North-West and North-East had allowed farmers to return to their lands, boosting food production and lowering the prices of essential goods.
Regarding the economy, the Presidency asserted that Tinubu’s administration had stabilized Nigeria’s financial standing after inheriting a precarious situation.
“Our balance of trade has improved, foreign reserves are stronger, inflation has moderated, and the naira is gaining strength,” the statement read.
The government also pointed to increased local refining capacity, citing operations at the Dangote Refinery and the NNPCL refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri as major achievements.
While the CBCN has not issued a formal statement following the meeting, its engagement with Tinubu signals ongoing dialogue between the Catholic Church and the government on critical national issues.
