Catholic bishops’ alarming prognosis far from reality, says Presidency

• Spokesman insists Nigeria on right track

Catholic bishops got it wrong on their claim that Nigeria was sitting on a ticking time bomb due to the challenges of insecurity, youth unemployment, poverty and corruption, the Presidency said yesterday.
Dismissing the concerns raised by the clerics under the auspices of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) as an alarming prognosis, the Presidency insisted that Nigeria is making significant progress in every sphere.
In a statement in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency acknowledged the concerns raised by the bishops but insisted that the country is in a far better position than it was before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office.
At the opening of their 2025 first plenary meeting at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) in Abuja, the CBCN warned that Nigerians might resort to self-help, a development the clerics said might be catastrophic and demanded action from the government.
But Onanuga described the CBCN’s assessment as “an alarming prognosis” that did not reflect the reality of ongoing improvements across sectors.
He stated that Nigeria is now more secure than in 2023, crediting the military and security agencies for the elimination of over 8,000 criminals, including bandits, armed robbers, Boko Haram terrorists and kidnappers.
The presidential spokesman also noted that more than 10,000 Nigerians – mainly women and children – had been rescued from their captors.
He argued that improved security, particularly in the Northwest and Northeast, has enabled farmers to return to their fields, leading to increased food production and a subsequent drop in prices of essential commodities.
Addressing economic concerns, the Presidency highlighted key indicators of progress the country has made under the current government, including a stronger balance of trade, growing foreign reserves, and a stabilising the currency.
Onanuga referred to increased local refining capacity, with the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri now operational, as evidence of the administration’s success in reducing dependency on imported fuel.
He emphasised that the Tinubu administration has rolled out targeted youth employment programmes, such as 3MTT, NATEP, LEEP, IDiCE, NiYA, and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund – all aimed at creating over 10 million jobs.
The statement noted that revenue collection has seen a sharp increase, allowing the government to fund critical infrastructure projects in roads, power, healthcare, education, and security.
“The record N54.9 trillion Budget 2025,” Onanuga added, “is designed to revitalise the economy and put it on a long-term growth trajectory.”
Referencing international recognition, the Presidency cited a recent Chatham House report that described Nigeria’s economy under President Tinubu as the most competitive it has been in 25 years due to his reform agenda.
Although it acknowledged that many Nigerians still face economic hardships, the Presidency assured Nigerians that the government remained committed to making the necessary decisions to ensure a more prosperous future.
Onanuga reaffirmed President Tinubu’s dedication to leading the country towards “a greater and stronger Nigeria,” stressing that the administration is optimistic about the impact of its ongoing reforms.