Yola, 20 March, 2024 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Yola is concerned about the state of the West African nation, where he says people’s livelihoods have been adversely affected amid “galloping inflation” and insecurity.
In his homily during the Closing Mass of 2024 Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting, Bishop Mamza described Africa’s most populous nation as “really sick”.
“Nigeria is currently suffering from multidimensional poverty ranging from insecurity, galloping inflation and total economic crisis. Nigeria is really sick, people are dying because of the hardship,” he said during the March 17 event that was held at St. Theresa's Catholic Jimeta Cathedral of his Episcopal See.
Bishop Mamza highlighted the effects of the situation on the people of God at the grassroots, saying, “Things are very expensive and different parishes are bearing the brunt. There are those dying of hunger; so many have withdrawn their children from school because they cannot afford to pay school fees.”
“Many have been ejected from their houses because they cannot pay house rent; so many cannot go to hospital because they cannot foot the medical bills,” he said.
