Insecurity: Nigerians have lost the joy of Christmas — Catholic Bishops

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Catholic Bishops under the umbrella of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have lamented the security and socioeconomic status of Nigeria, stressing that such situation has made Nigerian Christian communities to lost the joy of Christmas.

CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, in a statement, on Friday, highlighted that economic hardship, insecurity, displacement, and persistent violence have left many Nigerians fearful, weary, and uncertain.

He said: “Nigeria today carries heavy wounds. Families have been torn apart, livelihoods disrupted, and lives lost to lawlessness. We share the anguish of families whose loved ones remain in captivity, alongside countless others across the country living under similar threats.

“They are human lives of immeasurable worth, each bearing the image of God. Yet, Christmas proclaims a deeper truth. Suffering does not mean abandonment. Because the birth of Christ assures us that evil does not have the final word. Christmas opens before us the path towards hope and renewal. Peace can be built, unity restored, and justice take root when truth and human dignity are respected.

“Our nation longs for a future where integrity overcomes corruption and violence gives way to security. While injustice has wounded our common life, Christmas assures us that these patterns are not irreversible. What has been fractured can be rebuilt, and what has been wounded can be healed, if we accept the shared responsibility this hope demands.

“Even amid these trials, signs of hope continue to emerge in our land. Across our communities, many Nigerians quietly choose courage over fear, honesty over corruption, and service over self-interest. These daily acts of faithfulness remind us that the moral heart of our nation is still alive and that renewal can grow even in a difficult soil.

“To celebrate Christmas is, therefore, to see Nigeria not only as she is, but as she is called to be. Emmanuel, God with us, assures us that our story is not finished, that grace is still at work in our land, and that hope remains stronger than fear. The manger proclaims that despair will not have the last word and calls us to renewed commitment to justice, reconciliation, and peace.”