President Bola Tinubu on Friday, March 14, 2025, welcomed a delegation from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, led by Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the CBCN and Catholic Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, brought together prominent clerics, including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Bishop Emeritus John Cardinal Onaiyekan.
Although the details of their discussions were not made public, the meeting came at a critical time following the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom issues. The CBCN had also raised concerns about the nation’s worsening economy, rising insecurity, youth unemployment, and corruption during their first plenary meeting of 2025.
The Presidency acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing its commitment to ongoing reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and improving national security. Government officials highlighted efforts made since Tinubu’s assumption of office and reiterated the administration’s willingness to collaborate with religious leaders to promote peace and national development.
The meeting reflects the growing engagement between the government and faith-based institutions in addressing pressing societal challenges and fostering unity across Nigeria.
