Abuja, Nigeria – The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has attributed the country’s persistent economic struggles and security crises to poor leadership, warning that Nigeria loses trillions of naira annually to crude oil bunkering and illegal mining.
In a communiqué released at the conclusion of their first plenary meeting in Abuja, signed by outgoing CBCN President Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and Secretary Donatus Ogun, the bishops expressed concern that proceeds from illegal mining of minerals like gold and lithium are often diverted to criminal networks financing terrorism and organised crime across Nigeria.
“Where politics is erroneously understood as the rigging of elections and the stealing of other people’s mandate, leadership is unfortunately reduced to the amassing of illicit wealth and other fraudulent activities,” the statement said.
The CBCN highlighted that weak governance has fueled corruption, rising unemployment, deteriorating infrastructure, and declining public trust in institutions. Despite Nigeria’s democratic processes, irregularities in elections have repeatedly undermined citizens’ ability to freely choose leaders.
The bishops also warned against the politicization of state institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the judiciary, urging authorities to avoid manipulating them for partisan advantage.
“With good leadership, these resources would have contributed significantly to national economic growth and development,” the communiqué noted, referring to Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth.
On security, the CBCN welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency and the recruitment of additional personnel but stressed that insecurity remains a pressing issue. They cited attacks in Woro and Nuku villages in Kwara State, where over 200 people were reportedly killed by suspected Islamist extremists.
The bishops urged governments at all levels to invest in modern surveillance technology, strengthen intelligence gathering, and adopt decisive leadership to restore stability and unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
