By Dangwam Jude Dabee
The Catholic Bishops of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province have called for justice, accountability and solidarity in the face of Nigeria’s deepening socio-economic, political and security challenges, urging citizens to anchor hope in God and responsible governance.
In a Pastoral Statement issued at the end of their meeting at the Bishop’s Residence, Ahiara, from Tuesday 4 – Wednesday 5 August, 2026, the Bishops said they reflected “prayerfully on the life and mission of the Church in our Province, and on the socio-economic, political, and security challenges that weigh heavily upon our people and our nation.”
The statement was signed by Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri, Chairman and Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Ndubueze Echema, Bishop of Aba Diocese, secretary.
The Bishops began with gratitude to God “for His enduring providence and protection over the Church in Nigeria, despite the severe trials we face.”
They also saluted “the unwavering faith of our priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful, whose steadfastness sustains the life of our Christian communities.”
We renew our commitment to the prophetic mission entrusted to the Church
The Church leaders reaffirmed their role in the society by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ without compromise, “As Bishops, we renew our commitment to the prophetic mission entrusted to the Church: to proclaim the Gospel without compromise, to defend the inviolable dignity of every human person, to promote justice and peace, and to walk with God’s people especially in times of suffering and uncertainty.”
In the Special Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, they urged the faithful to embrace “simplicity, holiness of life and detachment from materialism” and to recommit to “protecting the earth, our common home.”
The Bishops expressed “deep pastoral concern” over worsening hardship faced by citizens of the the country especially in the area of cost of food, transportation, cost of energy among others.
“We are concerned by the soaring food prices, persistent inflation, exorbitant transport costs, rising energy tariffs, and the collapse of the purchasing power of the Naira, which have placed intolerable burdens on families. Many parents struggle to send their children to school, small businesses are folding up, and a growing army of young people see little reason to hope.”
They decried the contrast between citizens’ sacrifices and the conduct of public officials which has left so much distrust among ordinary people in the region.
“At the same time, we are distressed by the glaring contrast between the sacrifices demanded of ordinary citizens and the continuing display of opulent lifestyles, wasteful public expenditure, and excessive governance costs by many public office holders. Such dissonance erodes public trust and compounds the despair of the populace.”
“The integrity of the upcoming elections is profoundly threatened.”
They emphasized that with the 2027 General Elections approaching, the Bishops warned that “the integrity of the upcoming elections is however, profoundly threatened by the systematic erosion of political competition through induced defections to the ruling party, and the growing decimation or deregistration of opposing parties, raising fears that the country is being transformed into one-party state.”
They also cited “denial of level playing ground for opposition parties through skyrocketing of prices for billboards and advertisements in government owned media houses, denial of access to public spaces for campaigns etc.,” which they said “jeopardise a truly democratic culture.”
They called on Federal and State governments to “uphold the rule of law and guarantee equal right to the citizens” and charged INEC to “conduct credible, free and fair elections.”
Commending on the judiciary, they said “The integrity of the judiciary needs to be maintained… We denounce the frivolity that has entered into the judiciary in the recent past, with reckless interventions and judgements that ridicule the Judiciary.”
The Bishops pledged to mobilise the faithful to vote and directed that “our priests never to turn our churches into platforms for campaign by preferred political office-seekers.”
Human Dignity, Migration and the Future of Young People
The Bishops condemned “kidnapping, armed robbery, violence and all forms of criminality” and the impact of “sit-at-home orders that paralyse economic activities” in the province
They warned over youth migration in the country pointing at how most of them ends in the hands of criminal networks and transnational syndicate who manipulate these youths with false jobs promises for their personal gains as worrisome.
“Unfortunately, many of these migrants are trapped in criminal networks and transnational syndicates that manipulate them with false promises of lucrative jobs and seamless transit to Europe, only to be caught up in a web of modern-day slavery. As a Church, we cannot turn a blind eye to the myriad of abuses linked with trans-Saharan migration of young people to Europe.
“We unequivocally condemn modern day slavery and human trafficking for forced labour and sexual exploitation. We insist that our youths are bearers of hope and not victims of despair.”
They urged government and stakeholders to prioritize “vocational training, entrepreneurship, technological innovation, digital skills acquisition, and access to affordable financing for young entrepreneurs.”
The Church leaders charged young people not to fall into the trapped of bad people who trade with their future; “do not surrender to despair. Reject cybercrime, drug abuse, cultism, human trafficking, ritual killings, and every dishonest means of livelihood. True greatness is built on honesty, discipline, hard work, perseverance, and trust in God. Nigeria still needs your creativity, your intelligence, and your patriotic commitment.”
Governance, Accountability and the Common Good
The Bishops stressed that “Good governance is indispensable for national development” and called for commitment to the Constitution and rule of law.
They noted, “The law enforcement structure and the security architecture as we have them today have proved inadequate. Many are calling for regional and local police, the advantages outweigh such fears. We therefore advise the National Assembly to make adequate provisions to checkmate such abuses.”
They also commended efforts to strengthen Local Government autonomy and urged leaders to embrace “servant leadership rooted in integrity, accountability, humility, and a steadfast commitment to the common good. Public office is a sacred trust, not a vehicle for personal enrichment.”
The Bishops raised concern over unapproved religious groups operating in the country by luring “Many individuals including priests, religious and ex-religious and lay faithful try to harvest the boom in vocation in our country… by trying to establish local religious institutes, secular institutes and pious associations of the faithful without the required competent ecclesiastical authority.”
Citing Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio Authenticum Charismatis (1st November 2020), they directed: “no group of persons may operate as a religious group within our Province without the Nihil Obstat from the Holy See.”
Maria Assumpta University, Owerri: A Beacon of Hope
The Bishops of the Owerri province while counting their eggs celebrated the establishment of Maria Assumpta University Owerri and the granting of its operating licence by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“We are hopeful that Maria Assumpta University will become a beacon of hope to all those who long for sound education. We congratulated the Archdiocese of Owerri and Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Promoter of the University for the achievement.”
The Bishops made a solemn call for prayers and hope among lay faithful and citizens of the country despite the challenges.
“Despite the trials of the present hour, we remain firm in our conviction that God has not abandoned Nigeria. Our hope rests not on human institutions alone, but on the unfailing mercy of God. ‘Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us (Rom 5:3–5).”
They directed that “throughout the Province, prayers be offered in all parishes for peace, justice, good governance, security, and national renewal” and recommended “the regular recitation of the Prayer for Nigeria in Distress and Eucharistic Adoration for the healing of our land.”
The leaders further prayed for the wounded communities across the nation, “May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Patroness of Nigeria, intercede for our nation. May Christ, the Prince of Peace, strengthen all who labour for justice, heal our wounded communities and restore hope to every Nigerian family.”
