The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite worsening economic hardship, insecurity and widespread displacement across the country.
In a Christmas message on Friday, Lucius Ugorji, president of the CBCN and archbishop of Owerri, said the birth of Jesus Christ remains a powerful reminder that God has not abandoned Nigeria, even amid deep national challenges.
He added that the Christmas season offers reassurance that “evil does not have the final word.”
“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,” he said.
The cleric lamented the scale of suffering across the country, citing economic hardship, insecurity, displacement and persistent violence that have left many Nigerians “fearful, weary, and uncertain.
