Nigerian religious leaders call for action on security and poverty

Religious leaders in Nigeria are calling for increased engagement to address the nation's escalating security crisis, poverty, and social challenges.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo urged the Nigerian Church to adopt a “militant” faith—which he defined as being zealous and active in service rather than advocating violence—to confront moral decline and insecurity. Speaking at the LAWNA International Convention of The Apostolic Church Nigeria in Lagos, Obasanjo questioned the impact of the country's large Christian population in the face of persistent social instability.

In a separate development, more than 70 Nigerian bishops traveled to the Vatican during an ad limina visit to issue a direct warning regarding the worsening security situation. The bishops reported that church communities are facing violence, displacement, and fear, emphasizing that the crisis is a direct threat to lives and the basic safety of the population.