The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take deliberate steps to reassure Christians of their place in the country, saying many believers remain uneasy following the departure from the traditional Christian-Muslim presidential arrangement.
The appeal was made on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa by the President of the CBCN, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso. In an address presented to the President, the bishops acknowledged Nigeria’s cordial relationship with the Holy See but stressed that many Christians still have genuine concerns about 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.
The conference urged Tinubu to implement policies capable of easing religious tensions and reinforcing the constitutional rights of Christians. It also expressed concern over what it described as a shrinking political space, warning against any perception that Nigeria could be drifting toward a one-party state. While recognising the President’s role in Nigeria’s democratic struggle, the bishops called on him to ensure that members of the ruling party uphold fairness and provide equal opportunities for all political actors.
The bishops further warned that the credibility of the 2027 general elections would be critical to the nation’s stability. They noted that public confidence in the electoral process had continued to decline, with many Nigerians believing their votes no longer count. They therefore urged the President to ensure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delivers transparent elections, beginning with the seamless 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 praised the Federal Government for the recent rescue of kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State and the arrest of some suspected kidnappers. However, they described the successes as isolated, insisting that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continue to endanger lives across the country. According to the conference, schools, places of worship, homes, farms and highways remain vulnerable, while many criminal groups still operate with alarming freedom.
The conference also lamented the worsening economic hardship confronting Nigerians, attributing the challenges to persistent insecurity, inadequate electricity supply, poor road infrastructure and the rising cost of living. It said many citizens were yet to experience the promised benefits of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “Our nation is bleeding. The citizens are suffering and crying,” the bishops stated, adding that Nigerians now expect practical solutions rather than repeated assurances.
Despite its criticisms, the CBCN commended the Federal Government for introducing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), describing it as a positive initiative for young Nigerians seeking higher education. It, however, expressed reservations over the National Universities Commission’s moratorium on the establishment of new private universities, arguing that the policy could further restrict access to tertiary education at a time when existing institutions are unable to accommodate the country’s growing youth population.
The bishops also appealed to President Tinubu to invite Pope Leo XIV to Nigeria, saying the Pontiff holds the country close to his heart and that such a visit would strengthen national prayers for peace and unity. In addition, they renewed their request for the return of mission schools to their original proprietors and called on the Federal Government to ensure equal protection of religious freedom nationwide. Referring to the Supreme Court judgement of February 10, 2026, which affirmed the constitutional right of Muslim students at Rivers State University to freedom of religion and worship, the conference urged the government to extend similar constitutional protections to Christians, particularly in northern Nigeria, where they said many believers still face challenges in acquiring land for churches and practising their faith freely.