A delegation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
The visit followed the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over allegations that Christians are being targeted and killed.
The CBCN delegation was led by its President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri Archdiocese, alongside Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Bishop Emeritus of Abuja Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, among others.
The meeting was held behind closed doors, and its agenda was not disclosed at press time.
The U.S. Congress had previously raised concerns about religious freedom in Nigeria, which contributed to the country’s past CPC designation. In 2018, during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the White House, then-President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of persecuting Christians and warned against it.
At its first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja over the weekend, the CBCN criticized the government on the state of the nation’s economy and governance.
In his opening address, Archbishop Ugorji highlighted youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud as key challenges facing the country. He urged leaders to take swift action to prevent further decline.
Responding to the bishops’ concerns, the Presidency stated: “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 acknowledged the governance challenges raised by the bishops but insisted that significant progress had been made under Tinubu’s leadership in the past 22 months.
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On security, the Presidency stated: “Nigeria is more secure today than it was in 2023, thanks to our military, security agencies, and the strong leadership of President Tinubu. Over the last two years, more than 8,000 criminals—including bandits, armed robbers, Boko Haram terrorists, and kidnappers—have been eliminated, while over 10,000 Nigerians, primarily women and children, have been rescued from their abductors.”
It added that improved security in the North-West and North-East had allowed farmers to return to their lands, boosting food production and lowering prices of essential commodities.
On the economy, the Presidency asserted: “Tinubu’s administration has stabilised the economy from the precarious situation it inherited. Our balance of trade has improved, foreign reserves are stronger, inflation has moderated, and the naira is gaining strength. Local refining capacity has increased significantly, with the Dangote Refinery and NNPCL refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri coming on stream.”
