“It is imperative that religious leaders and parents take urgent action to address this trend by providing our young people with a sound biblical and moral foundation that is strengthened by appropriate mentorship opportunities in order to equip them to navigate the complexities of our modern world,” they say in the statement signed by Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos Archdiocese and Bishop Francis Adesina of Ijebu-Ode Diocese.
Recognizing the importance of meaningful engagement, the Catholic Church leaders also encourage a more intentional approach to listening to the concerns of young people. “We must also engage with them in a more intentional way and listen to their concerns so that we can provide them with relevant and meaningful support,” they say.
In their January 27 statement, the Catholic Bishops also express concern about the “deplorable conditions” and inadequate care afforded to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), migrants, and refugees in Nigeria.
“The humanitarian crises precipitated by the activities of different terrorist groups, the communal conflicts, and natural disasters in the country is alarming,” they say, quoting a report by the UNHCR which says that over 2.5 million people in the West African country have been forced to flee their homes, lost their loved ones, their properties, and means of livelihood, and are lacking the basic necessities of life.
The Catholic Bishops further appreciate the efforts at alleviating the suffering of the IDPs by units of the Church and Society Department of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) such as Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) as well as other non-governmental organizations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
They urge governments at all levels to “do much better than at present”, and to prioritize the well-being of vulnerable individuals in the country by providing them with dequate assistance, ensuring their care, protection, and support.
Reflecting on the state of the nation, the Catholic Bishops lament, “Nigeria is undoubtedly at a critical moment in its journey towards nationhood. So we have the perennial challenges of insecurity, corruption, poverty, violence, and activities of violent non-state actors that continue to threaten its stability and progress.”
“The economy struggles with rising inflation, unemployment, and a widening gap between the rich and the poor have among other things led to the tragic loss of life of over 100 people in December last year as they struggled to access palliatives,” the Catholic Church leaders say.
They add, “This tragedy underscores the need to bring about a change from the palliative mentality to an “empowerment culture.”
The Bishops further say, “This approach will restore citizens’ dignity and pride and help to achieve a genuine reduction of the rate of poverty.”