The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has raised a grave alarm over Nigeria’s deteriorating security and economic conditions, describing the nation as being on the brink of collapse under the weight of violence and hardship.
In a passionate Easter message delivered on Sunday, April 20, Bishop Kukah painted a bleak picture of the country’s reality, warning that Nigeria is transforming into a “vast national morgue” due to unchecked killings, widespread kidnappings, and the persistent failure of leadership to halt the bloodshed.
The nation is steeped in a culture of savagery and brutality unprecedented in our history,” Kukah lamented, invoking the image of crucifixion to illustrate the suffering endured by millions of Nigerians. “Our people have been nailed to a cross of pain, with no end in sight,” he said, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act decisively and compassionately.
While acknowledging that President Tinubu inherited many of these challenges, the bishop stressed that citizens remain trapped in unrelenting anguish. “Nigerians are bleeding, dangling on this cross of mindless suffering,” he declared.
Kukah expressed deep concern over the reach of violence, stating that no household or community remains untouched by the insecurity ravaging the land. “A dark cloud of death drifts across our nation, from north to south. Innocent people are abducted daily, held in degrading conditions,” he said. “Nigeria is dangerously close to the edge.”
The cleric also criticized the federal government’s approach to economic relief, warning that short-term palliative measures, such as food distributions, degrade the dignity of citizens rather than empower them. He acknowledged that removing fuel subsidies was inevitable, but questioned whether the gains were translating into realimprovements for ordinary Nigerians — especially farmers, whom he described as some of the most endangered workers in the country.
Our farmers now face death, not just drought,” he noted. “Palliatives cannot substitute for long-term solutions. Food security must become a constitutional right, not a seasonal handout.”
Kukah called on the president to prioritize ending hunger and creating sustainable agricultural policies. “Mr. President, bring Nigerians down from this cross of hunger and despair,” he urged.
Despite the grim tone of his message, Bishop Kukah encouraged citizens not to give up hope. Quoting scripture, he reminded Nigerians of their role in overcoming darkness with light. “Yes, our country is fractured and flawed, but we must never surrender to despair. With faith and determination, we can still build a nation aligned with divine justice.”
He concluded with a message of hope and goodwill: “To all Nigerians, and to Mr. President, I wish you a blessed and hopeful Easter. May this season of resurrection inspire a new beginning for our troubled land.”
