Researchers Foresee “mass exodus” of Young Nigerian Christians: This is Why

The ACN official notes that though the Nigerian situation is not isolated as many other African countries are experiencing Christian persecution, the West African country that is Africa’s most populous nation is unique and of crucial importance for the development of the African continent.

“Nigeria is an economic and demographic powerhouse with the population expected to double to 400 million in two decades. The events, and governance, in the coming years will not only have an enormous influence in the country but throughout the region,” Ms. Lozano says.

“Almost every single problem that affects other African countries can also be found in Nigeria,” she says. 

In Ms. Lozano’s analysis titled, “Nigeria: A Failing Democracy?”, she wonders why Islam is more important politically and administratively when the number of Christians in Nigeria are slightly higher than that of Muslims.

Christianity is the majoritarian religion (46.2 percent) based principally in the South whereas Islam (45.8 percent) is found mainly in the North.

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This, Ms. Lozano says, does not mean that there are no Christians in the North and vice-versa.

“The north-eastern State of Borno, for example, the birthplace of Boko Haram, is 30 percent Christian,” she says.

“Politically and administratively the Muslim north is more important, but it is home to only 40 percent of the population. In principle, in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic nation, this would give the Christian south equal or greater weight; however, almost 95 percent of the political and military power at the federal level is held by Muslims,” says Ms. Lozano.

She notes that the resulting tensions hindering the country’s democratic development are further exacerbated by the implementation of Shari’a Law in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 Northern States.

Ms. Lozano is less optimistic that the situation of Christians in Nigeria will change especially with the recently elected Muslim-Muslim ticket under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.