By Nicholas Dekera
The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review his administration’s policies, which he said have exacerbated the hardship faced by Nigerians.
In his Christmas message delivered in Kaduna on Tuesday, Archbishop Ndagoso lamented that insecurity, hunger, poverty, and economic challenges—including the unplanned removal of fuel subsidies and the free-floating of the naira—have plunged many citizens into despair.
“Hopelessness and loss of trust among the citizenry have reached unprecedented levels in the history of our country,” the Archbishop stated. He warned that this has led some to take drastic measures, including migration or even suicide.
“Those who can afford it are leaving the country in droves or ‘japaring.’ There is hopelessness everywhere in the land,” he said.
The cleric appealed to the federal government to urgently implement policy changes to alleviate the suffering of the populace.
“We plead with governments at all levels, especially at the federal level, to do whatever it takes by way of policy change or redirection to cushion the effects of the policies that brought us to where we are. The hunger and poverty in the land are better imagined,” Ndagoso said.
He also addressed the plight of farmers during the festive season, urging prudence in the management of farm produce despite the security challenges faced during the last farming season. “We thank all those who braved the odds to cultivate their farms.
However, we caution our farmers, especially in rural areas, to be mindful of their future needs when celebrating the season. Though all we possess is for the common good, charity begins at home.”
The Archbishop’s message also touched on the challenges surrounding palliative distribution, noting that the desperation for relief has led to tragic incidents during distribution efforts.
The Christmas message underscored the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic woes to restore hope and trust among the people.
