The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has criticized the federal government’s handling of recent protests against hardship and poor governance, describing it as “insensitive.”
The Church’s House of Bishops in Abuja expressed concerns over the government’s inability to address the root issues causing widespread dissatisfaction and unrest in the country.
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, the bishops, led by the Primate and Metropolitan of the Church, the Most Rev’d Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba, and the Rt. Rev’d Dr. Williams Aladekugbe, Episcopal Secretary, condemned the government’s lack of empathy towards the suffering of its citizens.
They urged immediate actions to alleviate hunger and improve governance.
“The protest is a clarion call to governments at all levels, especially the federal, to heed the cry of the people,” the statement read.
“No government can legislate or stop people who are hungry from protesting.”
The bishops also strongly condemned the killing of protesters by security forces, labeling the actions of the security agents as unacceptable.
They called for the immediate training and retraining of security personnel to ensure they adhere to acceptable standards of engagement, particularly during protests.
“We strongly condemn the killing of some protesters by the security agents,” the statement continued.
“We call for the training and retraining of our security forces on the acceptable standards of engagement in matters like this.”
The Church further urged the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the protesters, recommending a mix of immediate, short-term, and long-term strategies to address the grievances of the Nigerian people.
In addition to the handling of protests, the bishops expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of kidnapping and banditry plaguing the nation.
They called on the government to take decisive action to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, while also emphasizing the need for food security.
Moreover, the Church praised the recent Supreme Court ruling that granted autonomy to local government areas, viewing it as a positive step towards decentralization.
The bishops called for the effective and prompt implementation of this judgment to strengthen local governance and improve service delivery at the grassroots level.
The statement from the House of Bishops underscores the growing concern