Tinubu Tells Catholic Bishops: We are Stabilising Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, that the ongoing restructuring of security operations and institutions would ensure victory over terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings across the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, that the ongoing restructuring of security operations and institutions would ensure victory over terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings across the country.
Tinubu spoke when he received the leadership of the bishops on Tuesday at State House, Abuja, adding that the administration was working hard to stabilise the country
The CBCN delegation was led by its President and Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese , Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, accompanied by 19 other bishops.
The CBCN delegation was led by its President and Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese , Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, accompanied by 19 other bishops.
The president noted that Nigeria’s security architecture was being repositioned for greater efficiency, adding that the security challenges in the country were being addressed through enhanced intelligence gathering, restructuring, and repositioning of security institutions, improved logistical support, and prioritisation of frontline personnel welfare.
He then urged the CBCN and other religious leaders to actively condemn violent attacks, guide their members, and support government efforts to end insurgency.
His words, “I have listened to you carefully, and, most importantly, your key areas are security and education.
He then urged the CBCN and other religious leaders to actively condemn violent attacks, guide their members, and support government efforts to end insurgency.
His words, “I have listened to you carefully, and, most importantly, your key areas are security and education.
“I can tell you categorically with sincerity that the country has been placed on a sound footing.
“The economy has recovered. The alarm for bankruptcy and dark tunnel of uncertainty that we had when I came in has been changed.
“The spirit of the people is lifting, and the economic turmoil that we feared is cleared. The economy has been delivered from bankruptcy.
“I always say, because of my background and profession, that I inherited the assets and liabilities of my predecessor.
“I have been running with it. This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon.
“Life is improving.
“And I will refer to the national anthem that in our complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice, and be good to all, and humanity.
“I have just approved the expansion of the armed forces. We are getting more equipment, building new barracks.
“We will defeat terrorism. It should be part of your sermons. I won’t deviate from our national anthem.”
On poverty alleviation, President Tinubu affirmed his administration's commitment to sustain interventions that directly improve the livelihoods of families and citizens such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFUND and urged citizens to explore available opportunities for engagement provided by the government and private institutions as well as embrace education, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition.
According to him, “We have no control over the population growth and trajectory.
“That is why you have membership in your various faiths, churches, to give hope to people and give commitment to humanity in the true sense of it.
“Our founding fathers did their best. They left us a nation, and we owe it to generations yet unborn to sustain it.”
Tinubu further said that the unity, stability, and prosperity of the country must be held sacrosanct by all stakeholders.
“To educate our children, I can say your children because you are revered fathers. You can’t say a four-year course in the university is not four years now.
“ASUU, Academic Staff Union of Universities, is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to our homes.
“Is that not an answer to our prayers? For me, that’s answered prayer,” he further said.
The President said the outlook on the country must remain positive.
On preparations for the 2027 general election, President Tinubu gave a pass mark to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, noting that the commission had been neutral.
“I have just approved the expansion of the armed forces. We are getting more equipment, building new barracks.
“We will defeat terrorism. It should be part of your sermons. I won’t deviate from our national anthem.”
On poverty alleviation, President Tinubu affirmed his administration's commitment to sustain interventions that directly improve the livelihoods of families and citizens such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFUND and urged citizens to explore available opportunities for engagement provided by the government and private institutions as well as embrace education, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition.
According to him, “We have no control over the population growth and trajectory.
“That is why you have membership in your various faiths, churches, to give hope to people and give commitment to humanity in the true sense of it.
“Our founding fathers did their best. They left us a nation, and we owe it to generations yet unborn to sustain it.”
Tinubu further said that the unity, stability, and prosperity of the country must be held sacrosanct by all stakeholders.
“To educate our children, I can say your children because you are revered fathers. You can’t say a four-year course in the university is not four years now.
“ASUU, Academic Staff Union of Universities, is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to our homes.
“Is that not an answer to our prayers? For me, that’s answered prayer,” he further said.
The President said the outlook on the country must remain positive.
On preparations for the 2027 general election, President Tinubu gave a pass mark to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, noting that the commission had been neutral.
“The opportunities are equal. INEC is neutral. They have never intimidated anyone.
“If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and uncertainty in the companies they keep, not me.”
The President told the leaders of the CBCN that state governors, following the constitution, have the authority to decide the return of mission schools.
“I returned all mission schools when I was the governor of Lagos State, and Cardinal (Olubunmi) Okogie, one of my best friends, is alive to testify to that,” he further noted.
Tinubu also, said that his administration had approved the establishment of more universities to meet the growing demand for higher education, pointing out that the statistics by the National Universities Commission,NUC, would help in the budgeting of the National Education Loan Fund, NELFUND.
“If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and uncertainty in the companies they keep, not me.”
The President told the leaders of the CBCN that state governors, following the constitution, have the authority to decide the return of mission schools.
“I returned all mission schools when I was the governor of Lagos State, and Cardinal (Olubunmi) Okogie, one of my best friends, is alive to testify to that,” he further noted.
Tinubu also, said that his administration had approved the establishment of more universities to meet the growing demand for higher education, pointing out that the statistics by the National Universities Commission,NUC, would help in the budgeting of the National Education Loan Fund, NELFUND.
“I believe in what you believe; we should embrace education to get out of poverty.”
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the CBCN had thanked Tinubu for the warm reception accorded to the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of relations between Nigeria and the Vatican.
Ndagoso further noted the areas of concern in the country, including insecurity, quality tertiary education, and limited spaces, sustaining gains of democracy, credible elections, and poverty, and urged President Tinubu to consider the return of mission schools and fair treatment for all worshipers, including the provision of worship places in all parts of the country, without bias.
The Archbishop of Kaduna called for free and fair elections in 2027.
“As a man who risked so much in the struggle for the return of democratic rule in the dark days of the military dictatorship, your greatest legacy would be the strengthening of our democratic institutions,” he added.
The delegation included Most Rev. Alfred Martins, Archbishop of Lagos/CBCN Vice President; Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta/CBCN Secretary; Most Rev. Moses Chikwe, Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri/CBCN Assistant Secretary; John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja; Most Rev Godfrey Onah, Bishop of Nsukka; Peter Cardinal Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia; Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Abuja; Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, Archbishop of Ibadan; Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha; Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, Bishop of Oyo; Most Rev. Gerald Musa, Bishop of Katsina; and Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the CBCN had thanked Tinubu for the warm reception accorded to the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of relations between Nigeria and the Vatican.
Ndagoso further noted the areas of concern in the country, including insecurity, quality tertiary education, and limited spaces, sustaining gains of democracy, credible elections, and poverty, and urged President Tinubu to consider the return of mission schools and fair treatment for all worshipers, including the provision of worship places in all parts of the country, without bias.
The Archbishop of Kaduna called for free and fair elections in 2027.
“As a man who risked so much in the struggle for the return of democratic rule in the dark days of the military dictatorship, your greatest legacy would be the strengthening of our democratic institutions,” he added.
The delegation included Most Rev. Alfred Martins, Archbishop of Lagos/CBCN Vice President; Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta/CBCN Secretary; Most Rev. Moses Chikwe, Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri/CBCN Assistant Secretary; John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja; Most Rev Godfrey Onah, Bishop of Nsukka; Peter Cardinal Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia; Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Abuja; Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, Archbishop of Ibadan; Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha; Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, Bishop of Oyo; Most Rev. Gerald Musa, Bishop of Katsina; and Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto.
Also on the delegation were: Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, Bishop of Enugu; Most Rev. Augustine Echema, Bishop of Aba; Most Rev. Christopher Naseri, Auxiliary Bishop of Calabar; Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, Secretary General, Bishops Secretarait, Rev. Fr. Peter Audu, Director, Church and Society Department; Rev. Fr. Michael Imhadowinyi; and Dickson Adeyanju.
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