Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has decried the prevailing harsh socio-economic situation, heightening insecurity, rising youth unemployment and the deplorable state of the correctional centres in the country.

It pointed out that despite some of the positive effects of the economic and fiscal reforms embarked upon by the government, the state of the nation remains bleak, as dark clouds of uncertainty and despondency continue to gather.

Speaking at the opening session of the 2025 First Plenary Meeting yesterday in Abuja, the President of the conference and Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, explained that Nigerians have continued to endure increasing hardship on account of the harsh socio-economic situation in the country, including the high cost of petroleum products, transportation and essential goods.

He noted that while the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration aim at stabilising the economy in the long term, they have significantly triggered skyrocketing inflation, drastically reducing the purchasing power of Nigerians, and plunging millions into poverty.

Ugorji said: “The World Bank projects that 129 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line. The 2024 Global Report on Food Crisis lists Nigeria as the second globally in terms of acute food insecurity, with 24 million people categorised as food insecure. According to data drawn from the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation hit 39.84 per cent in December 2024. It is reported that Nigerians now spend about 65 per cent of their income on food alone. Thus healthcare and other necessities are sacrificed.

“Government’s efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the citizenry through the distribution of palliatives, duty waivers on imported food items, and other measures have remained a tip of the iceberg.”

Indeed, Nigerians have continued to suffer and die. Moreover, the resultant daily stress is having a heavy toll on the mental health of many parents, as they overstretch themselves to make ends meet.”

The cleric, who bemoaned the rising youth unemployment in the country, noted that with 53 per cent of unengaged youths, Nigeria is second to South Africa, which recorded 61 per cent youth unemployment. He said the situation is foreseen to worsen with institutions of learning in the country turning out more and more graduates into the labour market yearly.

Ugorji added that the situation is even worsened by the lay-off of workers due to the closure of several companies and multinational corporations on account of the existing harsh and hostile economic atmosphere in the country.

In his goodwill message, President of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, observed that at a time when the country is yearning for healing, unity, justice, and renewal, the church stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a new Nigeria, where righteousness, peace and love shall reign.

He submitted that the country has been wallowed with hopelessness and despair for a long time, as “many of our fellow citizens are at their breaking points, while some have given up hope entirely amid extreme conditions of hunger, poverty, insecurity and disease.”

Okoh observed that the Catholic Church, through its unwavering commitment to the Gospel and the common good, has continued to inspire positive transformation in Nigeria, adding that the church’s prophetic voice, tireless advocacy for social justice, and steadfast stance on truth and equity remain a guiding light in these challenging times.