Catholic Bishops in Nigeria have issued a strong critique of the country’s electoral system, escalating insecurity, and illegal mining operations, saying these issues threaten democratic confidence and economic progress.
In an address at the opening of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) 2026 plenary session, CBCN President Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji argued that longstanding flaws in Nigeria’s election processes have eroded public trust and discouraged voter participation.
He urged lawmakers to strengthen the electoral law by requiring real-time electronic transmission of results from polling stations to national results platforms, a move, he said, would reduce opportunities for fraud and manipulation.
Ugorji also called attention to Nigeria’s rising insecurity, highlighting mass kidnappings and violence in multiple states.
He said banditry and mass killings have worsened because security forces depend too much on reactive responses rather than proactive surveillance and technology.
The bishops further pointed to illegal mining as a major source of revenue loss and insecurity, claiming proceeds from unregulated extraction of minerals such as gold and lithium are being used by criminal groups to purchase weapons and fund violent activities across the country.
They urged the government to step up enforcement and use modern tools like drones and artificial intelligence to monitor remote mining areas.
The clerics also warned that recent tax reforms could inadvertently increase living costs for ordinary Nigerians and push more youths toward criminal activity if not implemented thoughtfully.
The bishops’ comments reflect deep concerns from civil society about democratic credibility, public safety, and governance in Africa’s most populous nation issues that could have lasting impact on Nigeria’s development trajectory if left unaddressed.
