The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has concluded its week-long First Plenary Meeting in Abuja with a strong appeal to governments at all levels to intensify efforts at addressing insecurity and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the outgoing President, Lucius Ugorji, and the outgoing Secretary, Donatus Ogun, the Bishops urged authorities to invest in modern technological equipment for surveillance and reinforce intelligence gathering mechanisms to enable security agencies to proactively discharge their responsibilities.
The Bishops commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a national security emergency and approving the recruitment of additional security personnel, noting that the move has spurred the military to scale up operations against terrorists.
However, they stressed that while external assistance is appreciated, the responsibility for securing the nation ultimately lies with Nigerians.
Economic Sabotage
Addressing economic sabotage, particularly illegal mining and theft of mineral resources, the Bishops called for a more aggressive approach. They observed that the “Mining Marshals” deployed to secure mining sites have not been fully effective in covering remote terrains.
They recommended complementing their efforts with drone technology and artificial intelligence for monitoring high-risk areas.
On food security, the CBCN expressed concern over continued food importation, warning that it negatively affects local farmers.
The Bishops urged the government to provide adequate security and sufficient subsidies to farmers to boost local production and ensure national food sufficiency.
2027 General Elections
On the 2027 general elections, the Bishops emphasised that the legitimacy of elected officials is crucial to sustaining democracy.
They urged citizens to vote for candidates with proven records of probity, competence, and commitment, and called on governments at all levels to resist the temptation to manipulate state institutions, including the electoral body, security agencies, and the judiciary.
The CBCN decried persistent electoral malpractices, including vote buying, falsification of results, intimidation, and the inclusion of fictitious names in the voters’ register, warning that such practices undermine public confidence and fuel voter apathy.
Electoral Reforms
The Bishops demanded that the National Assembly review its recent position on electoral reform and ensure that the Electoral Act provides for the mandatory real-time transmission of election results from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at polling units directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to prevent human interference.
Speaking at a press conference at the close of the plenary themed “Leadership for the Common Good,” Archbishop Ugorji described the theme as the foundation of a just society.
He noted that effective leadership must promote the common good, respect human dignity, and guarantee access to essential needs without repression or tyranny.
The plenary also witnessed the official presentation of new CBCN leadership. The Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Ndagoso, emerged as the new President, while the Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, was elected Vice President.
The Bishop of Abeokuta, Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo, was named Secretary, and the Bishop of Abakaliki, Peter Nworie Chukwu, will serve as Assistant Secretary.
The new principal officers will pilot the affairs of the CBCN for the next four years.
The outgoing leadership was appreciated for its service, while prayers were offered for God’s wisdom and strength for the new executive team.