ABUJA—The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they have plunged millions into poverty and worsened inflation.
Speaking at the 2025 first plenary meeting of the conference on Sunday, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru-Ugorji, President of the CBCN, said Nigerians are enduring severe hardship due to the skyrocketing cost of living.
“While the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration aim at stabilizing the economy in the long term, they have significantly triggered skyrocketing inflation, drastically reduced the purchasing power of Nigerians, and plunged millions into poverty,” Mr. Ugorji said.
Citing World Bank projections, he said 129 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line, while a 2024 Global Report on Food Crisis ranks Nigeria second globally in acute food insecurity, with 24 million people food-insecure.
“According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation hit 39.84% in December 2024. Nigerians now spend about 65% of their income on food alone, sacrificing healthcare and other basic necessities,” he added.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts—including palliatives, duty waivers on food imports, road rehabilitation, and the student loan scheme—Mr. Ugorji said they remain inadequate.
“Despite these measures, the state of the nation remains bleak, as dark clouds of uncertainty and despondency continue to gather,” he said.
On security, the CBCN president lamented the continued rise in violence across the country.
“The ‘armies’ of Boko Haram, bandits, and unknown gunmen continue to grow in number and acts of barbarism,” he said, warning that the nation’s security situation has worsened.
