Sokoto State, Nigeria – Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has described the recent stampedes at palliative distribution centres across Nigeria as a grim reflection of the worsening economic hardship facing citizens. The tragedies, which claimed over 67 lives in Oyo, Anambra, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) last week, underscore the deep desperation gripping the nation, he said.
In his Christmas message on Wednesday, Bishop Kukah expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, emphasizing that the incidents were avoidable and stemmed from the government’s failure to address the root causes of hunger and poverty.
“The tragedies that occurred in Okija, Ibadan, and Abuja, where innocent people lost their lives in stampedes at food distribution points, are a metaphor for the desperation that citizens have been thrown into,” Kukah said. “The government’s inability to respond decisively to the crisis of hunger has created the conditions for these avoidable tragedies. Citizens are lapsing into despair.”
He called on the government to collaborate more closely with institutions like the Catholic Church, which have a history of providing support to the needy and promoting societal welfare.
Bishop Kukah also criticized the high cost of participating in politics, which he identified as a significant barrier to youth engagement despite the passage of the “Not Too Young to Run” bill in 2018.
“While the election of young people at various levels of governance is commendable, the problems of internal democracy and the exorbitant costs of running for public office remain major obstacles to greater youth participation,” he noted.
Commending the federal government for its recent introduction of educational loan schemes, Kukah urged policymakers to extend similar initiatives to vocational and technical education, ensuring inclusivity and equipping more young Nigerians with practical skills.
The cleric also decried the persistent challenges of ethnicity, nepotism, and greed, which he said undermine national unity and equitable access to opportunities.
“Our journey to greatness is still constrained by the forces of ethnicity, nepotism, and greed. Ethnicity and religion continue to trump common citizenship when it comes to accessing opportunities,” he lamented.
Addressing the issue of insecurity, Bishop Kukah linked it to systemic corruption, unemployment, and violent extremism, warning that progress in combating violence would remain elusive without tackling these underlying issues.
“Insecurity is the first child of corruption,” he declared. “We cannot win the war against insecurity without addressing unemployment and violent religious extremism, which create fertile ground for violence.”
Bishop Kukah’s message serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for government action to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and restore hope amidst deepening economic and social challenges.
