- By Halimah Olamide
Lamentations over the worsening state of the country’s economy continued on Sunday as the Catholics Bishops and the Christian Association of Nigeria said that Nigeria is in her worst economic times.
They spoke at the opening session of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja yesterday.
In attendance were Cardinal John Onayekan; Deputy Managing Director, Zenith Bank, Dr Adaora Umeoji; Governor of Imo State, Sen, Hope Uzodimma; President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji; Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese of Anambra State, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Phillip Shuiabu.
They all agreed that Nigeria is in crisis with humanitarian crisis being caused by acute hunger and disease.
CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, issued a stark assessment of the current situation in the country, describing it as the ‘ worst of times,’ particularly with regard to security and the economy, and described the state of affairs in the nation as tumultuous.
The Archbishop lamented what he called stark realities facing Nigerians, emphasizing the persistent insecurity and economic turmoil, despite substantial security votes. “If we cast a cursory glance at the present state of our nation, we are inclined to conclude that this seems to be the worst of times for our country in the areas of security and the economy,” he said.
Speaking on the poor value of the Nigerian currency, he said, “As a result of the government’s reform agenda, millions of Nigerians have been reduced to a life of grinding poverty, wanton suffering, and untold hardship as never before in our national history. In a bid to survive, an increasing number of the poor have resorted to begging.”
On the insecurity, he said many Nigerians are being killed or kidnapped lamenting that security agencies have found it impossible to tame killers.
“Unarmed citizens are brutally slaughtered on our highways, in their homes and even in the sacred precincts of places of worship. Killer herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen seem to be on rampage. ‘’Many communities across the nation have been taken over completely by criminals. Families have lost their ancestral lands to armed invaders and land-grabbers,” the Archbishop lamented.
Calling on President Bola Tinubu to review his reform agenda, he said the agenda has plunged Nigerians into further misery saying ““The reform agenda of the present government has added to the plight of Nigerians. With the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market, there has been a sharp increase in the pump price of petroleum products and a steep decline in the value of the naira. “Indeed, there is a free fall of the national currency. High, spiralling inflation has made it difficult for the average Nigerian to access basic commodities, including food items and medication.”