The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on Nigerians to remain hopeful despite escalating economic hardship, insecurity, and displacement across the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a Christmas message on Friday, Lucius Ugorji, president of the CBCN and Archbishop of Owerri, said the birth of Jesus Christ serves as a powerful reminder that God has not abandoned Nigeria, even amid deep national challenges.
“At Christmas, the Church proclaims the truth upon which all Christian hope rests: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God did not respond to the brokenness of the world with distance or indifference. He responded by drawing near,” Ugorji said.
“Evil does not have the final word.”
The cleric lamented the scale of suffering in Nigeria, citing economic hardship, persistent violence, insecurity, and displacement that have left many citizens fearful, weary, and uncertain. He highlighted the abduction of students and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, as a painful reminder of the insecurity affecting communities nationwide.
“We recall with deep pain the abduction of students and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and the anguish of families whose loved ones remain in captivity, alongside countless others across the country living under similar threats,” Ugorji said.
The CBCN president emphasised that Christmas is not a denial of suffering, but a declaration that suffering is not the end of the story.
“Christian hope does not deny evil, but it refuses to concede that evil is final. Even when answers are delayed and outcomes remain uncertain, hope assures us that no life is forgotten,” he said.
Ugorji urged Nigerians to pursue peace, unity, and justice, stressing that corruption and violence, though deeply rooted, are not irreversible:
“Our nation longs for a future where integrity overcomes corruption and violence gives way to security. What has been fractured can be rebuilt, and what has been wounded can be healed.”
He also highlighted the everyday acts of honesty, courage, and service by Nigerians as signs that the moral heart of the nation remains alive, and called on citizens to embrace the true meaning of Christmas, renewing their commitment to justice, reconciliation, and peace.
“These daily acts of faithfulness remind us that the moral heart of our nation is still alive,” Ugorji said, expressing hope that the Christmas season will bring healing and renewed purpose to Nigeria.
