President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The delegation, led by CBCN President and Catholic Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, included prominent clerics such as Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Bishop Emeritus of Abuja Archdiocese.
Context of the Meeting
The agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, but it follows recent concerns over Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the United States, citing attacks on Christians.
This designation revives past concerns raised by the U.S., including former President Donald Trump’s 2018 warning to Nigeria’s government over alleged persecution of Christians.
Additionally, the CBCN had recently criticized the Nigerian government over economic hardships, insecurity, corruption, and electoral fraud during its first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja.
Presidency’s Response
Reacting to the Catholic Bishops’ concerns, the Presidency acknowledged governance challenges but highlighted progress made under Tinubu’s administration.
“The Catholic Bishops’ commitment to national unity, peace, and stability is deeply valued by the government,” a statement from the Presidency read.
It further claimed that security had significantly improved since 2023, citing:
- The elimination of over 8,000 criminals, including bandits and Boko Haram insurgents.
- The rescue of over 10,000 kidnapped victims, mostly women and children.
- The return of farmers to their lands, boosting food production and reducing prices.
On the economy, the government stated that Tinubu’s policies had stabilized trade, strengthened foreign reserves, and improved local refining capacity with the progress of the Dangote Refinery and NNPC refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri.
While details of the meeting remain undisclosed, the engagement highlights ongoing dialogue between the government and religious leaders on pressing national issues.
