Catholic Archbishop Faults Fuel Subsidy Removal, Says “many Nigerians are dying of hunger”

“He could have removed it gradually and Nigerians will have become used to it.  But instead, he just dropped it like an atomic bomb,” he lamented.

The 63-year-old Archbishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in May 2003 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Maiduguri Diocese called upon Nigerians to remain hopeful, saying, “Don’t give up on our country; I am sure we will pull out of it.”

He continued in reference to President Tinubu-led government, “I want our leaders to know that leadership is all about service and politics is greatest avenue of service; as a president the resources of this country are under your care and you have the opportunity to use these resources for the common good and you can use it to touch lives.”

On July 22, Christian leaders in Nigeria called on the government to formulate economic policies that will address the country’s “prevailing hardships”.

In their statement, officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which includes representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) highlighted the removal of fuel subsidies as one of the policies that has placed an “enormous burden” on already struggling Nigerians.

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“While we agree that there is no gain without pain, the pain must not be unbearable. Consequently, we again urge the government to take into account the impact of its policies on the most vulnerable segments of society, and ensure they are not disproportionately burdened and subjected to unnecessary hardships,” CAN officials said.

They called on President Tinubu-led government to take into consideration “the concerns of the Nigerian people and implement sound economic policies that prioritize the well-being of all citizens.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.