Nigeria’s bishops say country is on the brink of collapse

Catholic bishops in Nigeria have called on the federal government to take urgent steps to address a growing secessionist movement, warning that the West African nation is on the brink of collapse.

"Calls for secession on an ethnic basis from many quarters should not be ignored or taken lightly," the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) warned in a major statement on February 23. 

The Church leaders said that, "with members from all parts of Nigeria”, they are “extremely disturbed about the present state of instability in the land".

They noted that in recent weeks "the clamor for self-defense is fast gaining ground” in this country of nearly 207 million people. 

“Many ethnic champions are loudly beating the drums of war, calling not only for greater autonomy but even for outright opting out of a nation in which they have lost all trust and sense of belonging," the bishops said. 

Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and customs. The three largest -- the Haus, Yoruba and Igbo -- make up an estimated 70% of the population.

"Many (Nigerians) have given up on the viability and even on the desirability of the Nigeria project as one united country," warned the country’s bishops in their conference statement.

The text was signed by Archbishop Augustine Akubueze of Benin-City, the CBCN president, and Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh of Ikot Ekpene, the conference secretary.  

"Seriously rising insecurity"

The Nigerian bishops claimed the country’s current crisis is due to a "palpable failure of the government".

They charged the elected leaders with failing to address "a seriously rising insecurity, as clearly shown by the loss of life and property caused by the growing number of bandits, Boko Haram, killer shepherds and other criminal elements throughout the country".

The Catholic leaders said President Muhammadu Buhari and his government could no longer put off their obligations to govern the nation, “not according to ethnic and religious prejudices, but according to the objective and positive principles of justice, fairness and, above all, impartiality”.

"It is not too much for Nigerians to demand from Mr President sincerity both in the public and private domain. There are no more excuses," the bishops insisted.

"One prosperous nation under God"

Citing their “deep patriotic love for our nation, not for any sectional interests, be they political, ethnic or even religious", the Church leaders urged the government to ensure that the situation does not continue to fester and degenerate.

"Despite the persistence of crises around us -- assassinations, COVID-19, kidnappings, murders, banditry, armed robberies -- we sincerely affirm our faith in the viability and desirability of the Nigeria Project, as one prosperous nation under God," they said in the February 23 episcopal conference statement.

The bishops, who lead a nationwide Catholic community that the Vatican estimates to be just over 30 million people, said Nigeria’s precarious unity was currently under threat. 

"We must be ready to seek a common purpose with sincerity of mind," they said.

"As individuals and as groups, we ought to be ready to make the necessary sacrifices that would enable us to manage our differences better and turn them into a positive rather than a negative force," the Catholic bishops insisted.

“Governments at different levels ought to lead the way," they said.