Catholic Bishops Warn Nigeria Risks Collapse Amid Corruption, Poor Governance

By David Odama

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has cautioned that the nation faces the danger of total collapse if corruption and entrenched bad governance are not decisively addressed.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their 2nd plenary meeting for 2025 in Ikot Ekpene, signed by CBCN President and Archbishop of Owerri, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, and Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun of Uromi, the Bishops expressed concern over what they described as the growing suppression of opposition and Nigeria’s tilt toward a one-party state.

They condemned politicians’ selfishness, accusing many of neglecting their responsibilities to focus on strategies for seizing power ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Bishops further highlighted worsening insecurity, mass youth unemployment, inadequate health facilities amid brain drain, and persistent power outages that increase living and business costs. They warned that the current situation threatens Nigeria’s unity and stability.

“The fundamental cause of our problems as a nation is corruption and bad governance,” the communiqué stated. “Corruption, understood as moral rottenness, has spread unhindered like a deadly cancer to all areas of our national life, destroying the fabric of the nation. Politicians seem more preoccupied with securing and retaining power than with providing good governance for the common good.”

They noted that many political actors are merely defecting, realigning, and positioning for offices without genuine plans to improve citizens’ welfare. “Our nation may collapse if the current situation lingers. There is need for radical change where the common good drives our political, economic, social, and cultural life,” the Bishops added.

On electoral integrity, they demanded urgent reforms to strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and shield it from interference. They listed persistent electoral flaws such as violence, voter suppression, technical failures, multiple thumb-printing of ballot papers, manipulation of voters’ registers, and falsification of results.

They urged a robust reform process that would ensure electronic transmission and collation of results in real time and stressed the need for transparent, non-partisan appointments of INEC officials. “The activities of many appointees so far fall below expectations,” the Bishops lamented, while calling on the judiciary to uphold justice in electoral disputes to preserve social stability.

The Bishops also expressed moral opposition to the growing use of assisted reproductive technologies, particularly In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), which they described as gravely immoral and sinful. They emphasized that the practice undermines the dignity of human embryos. Instead, they encouraged adoption and natural family planning as morally acceptable alternatives.

Commending government efforts on tax reforms to ease the burden on low-income earners, they, however, urged stronger regulation to prohibit the production of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), citing health and safety concerns.

“We call on Nigerians to work towards genuine national transformation that touches every sector of society. As we celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, we renew our hope for a better Nigeria, where everyone will feel secure and at home,” the Bishops concluded.