The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to address growing concerns among Christians over inclusion in governance, warning that deliberate policies are needed to reassure them of their rights as equal citizens.
The bishops made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday. Their position was presented by the President of the CBCN, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso.
While acknowledging the cordial relationship between Nigeria and the Holy See, the bishops said many Christians remain uneasy following the country’s departure from the Christian-Muslim presidential arrangement.
“This, Mr. President, is a time when many Christians have legitimate concerns about their place in Nigeria, especially regarding the departure from the Christian/Muslim presidency, and we hope that, through deliberate government policies, those concerns will be addressed and Christians will be reassured of their rights as citizens,” the bishops said.
They urged the President to take practical steps to ease tensions and reassure Christians that they enjoy the same constitutional rights and protections as every other Nigerian.
The conference also expressed concern over what it described as a shrinking democratic space, cautioning against any development that could lead Nigeria toward a one-party state.
While commending Tinubu for his role in Nigeria’s democratic struggle, the bishops called on him to ensure that members of the ruling party uphold democratic principles and provide a level playing field for all political stakeholders.
The clerics warned that the credibility of the 2027 general elections would be crucial to the country’s stability, noting that many Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process.
According to them, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must guarantee free, fair and transparent elections, beginning with the timely distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and ending with results that genuinely reflect the will of the electorate.
“Anything short of transparent, free, fair and credible elections in 2027 would be an invitation to avoidable disaster,” they warned.
On the security situation, the bishops acknowledged the Federal Government’s recent rescue of kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, as well as the arrest of suspected kidnappers.
However, they said such successes remain isolated, arguing that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continue to threaten lives and livelihoods across the country.
They expressed concern that schools, places of worship, homes, farms and highways remain vulnerable to criminal attacks in many parts of Nigeria.
The conference also lamented the country’s worsening economic conditions, pointing to persistent insecurity, poor electricity supply, deteriorating road infrastructure and the rising cost of living.
According to the bishops, many Nigerians have yet to experience the promised benefits of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our nation is bleeding. The citizens are suffering and crying,” they said, adding that Nigerians are looking for concrete solutions rather than assurances.
Despite the criticism, the bishops commended the Federal Government for establishing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), describing it as a positive intervention for students seeking access to higher education.
They, however, expressed concern over the National Universities Commission’s moratorium on the establishment of new private universities, arguing that it could further restrict access to tertiary education for the country’s growing youth population.
The CBCN also appealed to President Tinubu to extend an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit Nigeria, expressing confidence that such a visit would promote national unity, peace and spiritual renewal.
In addition, the bishops renewed their call for the return of mission schools to their original owners.
They further urged the Federal Government to guarantee equal protection of religious freedom nationwide.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s February 10, 2026 judgment affirming the constitutional rights of Muslim students at Rivers State University to freedom of religion and worship, the bishops called for similar protections for Christians, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria where, they said, many still encounter difficulties acquiring land for churches and freely practising their faith.
