“God is always active”: Catholic Archbishop Urges Nigerians not to Give Up Hope amid Persistent Insecurity

Lagos, 02 December, 2025 / 12:30 AM

Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos has urged Nigerians not to give up hope in the face of widespread hardships and persistent insecurity. 

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the closing session of the National Annual General Meeting organized by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) for leaders of various Church units in the country, Archbishop Adewale encouraged Nigerians to trust in God, insisting that “God is always active, even in the midst of our challenges.”

He acknowledged the depth of frustration and fear across the country, but stressed that hope remains the believer’s most powerful tool.

“Our gathering as the Church and Society Department is to explore how we can bring hope to our country. Knowing very well that in the midst of all situations, God is always active. In the midst of challenges and difficulties, the Spirit of the Lord keeps moving,” he said during the December 1 interview

The Catholic Church leader also urged Nigerians not to reach the point of resignation or despair, despite the troubling reports that dominate daily life.

“We who have faith and trust and confidence in God must never get to a point of losing hope. Rather, we must continue to explore areas in which God has shown us that He is truly in charge of our lives, no matter what the circumstance may be,” Archbishop Adewale said.

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop acknowledged that the country has witnessed “quite a good bit of bad news,” especially regarding persistent security breakdowns. 

He however pointed out that recent developments also show glimmers of hope that should not be ignored.

The 66-year-old Catholic Archbishop cited two recent rescue operations as “indications that things can get better” including the release of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Kebbi and the liberation of abducted worshippers of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku.

“At least the girls who were kidnapped in Kebbi have been released. The worshippers in Eruku who were abducted have been released. And we are having the hope that the government is beginning to get a grip on how to deal with the situation,” he said.

Archbishop Adewale acknowledged the widespread economic hardship affecting families across the country. While he admitted that many Nigerians have grown skeptical of official reassurances, he encouraged citizens to balance caution with faith and perseverance.

“Irrespective of the hardship that we are undergoing, we are constantly being informed that this is going to be only for some time. We have lots of reasons not to believe, but we also need to believe because that’s the way of being able to live in time and make the best of our time,” he said.

He encouraged citizens to “depend on God” even while they “key in to the message that we are constantly receiving from government.”

Reflecting on the spiritual significance of the Advent Season, Archbishop Martins described it as a timely reminder of God’s enduring presence—even amid national hardship.

“Advent is a time for expecting the presence of God in a special way. It is a moment of remembrance of the presence of God now, His presence in His first coming, and the reminder that He will come again at the end of life,” he said.

The Local Ordinary of Lagos, who doubles as the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) board  Chairman for Caritas Nigeria said Advent should inspire believers to look beyond the present crises and recognize that life itself is evidence of divine hope.

“If nothing else, we are alive, and wherever there is life, there is hope. There is hope that things can get better, and indeed, we have indications that things can get better,” he said. 

The Nigerian Archbishop extended his blessings to Nigerians as they navigate the Advent season, insisting that the message of Christ’s presence remains the strongest anchor for a nation in distress.

“We wish everybody a good season of Advent and a reception of the news that Christ is present even in the moment,” Archbishop Adewale said.