Abuja: The Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, has called for collective action against the insecurity and economic challenges facing Nigeria. Ndukuba made this appeal while addressing the Third Session of the Twelfth Synod of the Diocese of Abuja Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at St. Phillips Church in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ndukuba congratulated President Bola Tinubu on his two-year tenure and praised his administration’s efforts in economic reforms and infrastructure development. He also commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his performance in Abuja. Despite these commendations, Ndukuba highlighted persistent issues such as poverty, hunger, insecurity, poor healthcare, and endemic corruption.
Addressing the state of the nation, Ndukuba emphasized that insecurity has become a nationwide challenge requiring a collaborative approach to resolve. He noted that insurgency in the Northeast and banditry in other regions have disrupted economic activities, particularly in agriculture and mining, leading to decreased productivity, loss of revenue, and increased poverty. He urged stakeholders to tackle inflation, strengthen the Naira, and improve fiscal performance to rescue Nigerians from the economic challenges they face.
Ndukuba stressed the need to equip the armed forces, enhance policing, expose sponsors of insecurity, reform the legal system for accountability, and promote justice and peace. He argued that improved security would lead to economic revival and national growth, underscoring the importance of unity and peace for the benefit of all citizens. He called for religious and non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the government in addressing these socio-economic issues and emphasized the potential of gainful employment in agriculture and industry as solutions.
Discussing the economy, Ndukuba cited a report by the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 24.23 percent in March 2025, up from 23.18 percent in February 2025. He pointed out that the high inflationary trend is driven by factors such as insecurity in food-producing areas, energy costs, and currency fluctuations. While acknowledging some stability in the exchange rate, he urged monetary and fiscal authorities to continue interventions to strengthen the Naira, as the current exchange rate of N1600 per dollar hampers growth and impoverishes Nigerians.
Ndukuba also addressed the global decline in oil prices, noting its significant impact on Nigeria’s mono-product economy reliant on oil exports. He explained that the current oil price of $60 per barrel would disrupt budgetary plans based on a projected oil price of $75 per barrel, affecting government revenue and funding for development projects. He called for urgent efforts to diversify the economy, invest in non-oil sectors, and implement policies to promote economic growth and stability.
Concluding his address, Ndukuba urged resilience amid Nigeria’s challenges and called on Nigerians to abandon idols and serve God wholeheartedly, emphasizing that serving God is essential. He encouraged faith and commitment to God, highlighting the importance of presenting oneself as a living sacrifice and expressing service to God and others.
