Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that many Christians remain concerned about their place in the country following the departure from the Christian-Muslim presidential arrangement.
This is even as the bishops urged the President to address those concerns through deliberate government policies that reassure Christians of their rights as equal citizens.
The position was contained in an address presented by the President of the CBCN, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, during a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
According to the bishops, while they appreciated the cordial relationship between Nigeria and the Holy See, many Christians still have legitimate concerns over inclusion under the current administration.
“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 Tinubu to take steps to “soothe frayed nerves” and reassure Christians of their constitutional rights.
Beyond religious inclusion, the bishops expressed concern over what they described as shrinking political space and fears that Nigeria could drift towards a one-party state.
While acknowledging Tinubu’s role in the struggle for the restoration of democracy, they urged him to ensure that elected officials of the ruling party uphold fairness and guarantee a level playing field for all political actors.
The conference also warned that the country risked serious consequences if the 2027 general elections were not transparent and credible.
According to the bishops, there is growing public disenchantment with the electoral process, with many Nigerians believing that their votes no longer count.
They urged the President to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducts free, fair and credible elections, beginning with the easy availability of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and ending with results that reflect the true choice of voters.
“Anything short of transparent, free, fair and credible elections in 2027 would be an invitation to avoidable disaster,” they warned.
On insecurity, the bishops commended the Federal Government for the recent rescue of kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State as well as the arrest of some of the suspected kidnappers.
However, they described such achievements as isolated successes, saying terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continue to threaten lives across the country.
According to them, schools, places of worship, homes, farms and highways remain unsafe, with criminals operating freely in many parts of Nigeria.
The bishops also lamented the worsening economic hardship facing Nigerians, citing the country’s security challenges, poor electricity supply, deteriorating road infrastructure and rising cost of living.
They said many Nigerians were yet to feel the benefits of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our nation is bleeding. The citizens are suffering and crying,” they said, adding that Nigerians expect concrete action rather than assurances.
The CBCN nevertheless commended the Federal Government for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), describing it as a commendable initiative for young Nigerians.
It, however, expressed concern that the National Universities Commission’s moratorium on the establishment of new private universities could limit access to higher education, noting that available university spaces remain inadequate for the country’s growing youth population.
The bishops also appealed to President Tinubu to invite Pope Leo XIV to Nigeria, saying the Holy Father holds the country close to his heart and that his visit would strengthen national prayers and efforts towards peace and unity.
In addition, they renewed their request for the return of mission schools to their original proprietors.
The conference further urged the Federal Government to ensure equal protection of religious freedom across the country.
Referring to the Supreme Court judgment of February 10, 2026, affirming the constitutional right of Muslim students at Rivers State University to freedom of religion and worship, the bishops appealed to the government to guarantee similar constitutional protections for Christians, particularly in northern Nigeria, where they said many still face challenges in acquiring land for churches and freely practising their faith.