President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with a delegation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday. The delegation was led by Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the CBCN President and Catholic Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese. Other notable attendees included Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Bishop Emeritus of Abuja Archdiocese.
The discussions during the meeting were not disclosed to the public, but it took place at a time when Nigeria has been designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by the United States due to concerns about religious freedom. In the past, U.S. officials have expressed worries about attacks on Christians in Nigeria. Back in 2018, former U.S. President Donald Trump directly raised concerns with Nigeria’s then-President Muhammadu Buhari about violence against Christians.
The meeting also followed the CBCN’s first plenary session of 2025, where Catholic bishops raised concerns about Nigeria’s economy, security, and governance. During his address, Archbishop Ugorji pointed out several pressing issues in the country, including youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral malpractice. He urged the government to take urgent steps to address these challenges to prevent further decline in the country’s stability.
In response, the Presidency acknowledged the bishops’ concerns but stated that significant progress had been made since President Tinubu assumed office. The government appreciated the Catholic bishops for their consistent involvement in governance matters and their dedication to national unity and peace.
The Presidency also noted that while some governance challenges still exist, there have been major improvements, particularly in security. It stated, “In terms of insecurity, Nigeria is more secure today than it was in 2023, thanks to our military and other security agencies and the strong leadership provided by President Tinubu as the Commander-in-Chief.”
According to the government, over 8,000 criminals, including bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers, have been eliminated in the past two years, while more than 10,000 abducted individuals, mostly women and children, have been rescued. The statement added that improved security, particularly in the North-West and North-East, has allowed farmers to return to their fields, leading to increased food production and a drop in the prices of essential goods.
Regarding the economy, the Presidency claimed that Tinubu’s administration had stabilized Nigeria’s financial situation, strengthening foreign reserves and improving the country’s trade balance. The government also mentioned that the local refining capacity had increased, particularly with the operations of the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri.
