Nigeria Catholic Bishop Decries All Round Hopelessness In ountry

Blames insecurity, hunger, multi-dimensional poverty, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, unplanned fuel subsidy removal, currency floating, others

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndanoso has described the current situation in Nigeria as an all round hopelessness.

The Bishop made the assertion in the eve of Christmas in a message to the Christians Faith in Kaduna state and environments.

He attributed the situation also to the current insecurity, hunger, multi-dimensional poverty, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, insurgency, armed robbery, high cost of living and transportation caused mainly by the hurried and unplanned removal of fuel subsidy.

He also ascribed the current hardship in the country to free floating of the national currency, the Naira which he alleged has caused serious existential challenge to most Nigerians resulting to hopelessness and loss of trust among the citizenry, never experienced in the history of the country Nigeria.

“The situation in our country today with insecurity, hunger, multi-dimensional poverty, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, insurgency, armed robbery, high cost of living and transportation caused mainly by the hurried and unplanned removal of fuel subsidy.

‘And the free floating of the national currency, the Naira has caused serious existential challenge to most Nigerians resulting to hopelessness and loss of trust among the citizenry never experienced before in the history of our country.

“Some have lost hope in themselves, their country and even in God leaving them with no option but ending their lives. Those who can afford are leaving the country in droves or “japaring.” There is hopelessness everywhere in the land.
“Given the hardship in the land, 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 are.

“The hunger and poverty in the land is better imagined. Even at harvest time the prices of essential food items have not changed for the better. Little wonder then that wherever people hear of palliative distribution huge numbers gather to get whatever they can leading to the tragic experiences we have had in recent times.

“If anything, this should serve as a wakeup call to those charged with the responsibility of managing our common resources. We believe there are enough resources to go round with proper management”, he said.

He also said “Dear brothers and sisters, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us to give us hope in our seeming hopeless situation. Because he is Emmanuel, he is with us and in our situation good or bad.

“He says to you and I in our difficult situation to be calm and know that he is God (cf. Ex. 14:14). Our hope in God, St. Paul tells us does not fail or disappoint us (cf. Rom. 5:5). Our God is able. He will surely see us through this very difficult and trying times.

“For as Pope Francis has said, “Where God is born, peace is born; and where peace is born, hope is born; and where hope is born, persons regain their dignity.
Christianity is not a thought but a fact because God became man and it is this fact that we celebrate at Christmas.

“Jesus Christ who is the Word Incarnate is the fullness of the revelation of God (cf. Gal. 4:4). More than anything, Christianity is a revelation and it is God who reveals himself and God in his infinite generosity has given human beings enough light to hope and believe in him.
“As we reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation which is the result of God’s unconditional love for us, we should be challenged into asking ourselves how we are responding to this divine love (cf. my 2017 Christmas Message).

“God became man in order to teach us how to live a new way of life. In the light of the Incarnation we are challenged to see, judge and act in a new way wherever we find ourselves – in the neighbourhood, family, parish, office, institution because the incarnation has given us a new lease of life.

“Yet even today, according to Pope Francis, great numbers of men and women are deprived of their human dignity, and, like the child Jesus, they suffer cold, poverty, and rejection.
“We pray that our closeness to the Word Incarnate may be felt by those who are most vulnerable in our society like the internally displaced persons, the inmates, the sick and the homebound, the elderly, victims of herders’ attacks, human trafficking and the drug trade, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and women who suffer violence. (cf. 2015 traditional Urbi et Orbi message on Christmas day).

“With the Holy Father, Pope Francis, I enjoin one and all to “make sure that the Gospel becomes ever more incarnate in our own lives too. Drawing near to the Gospel, meditating on it and incarnating it in daily life is the best way to understand Jesus and bring Him to others.
“This is the vocation and the joy of every baptized person: showing Jesus and giving Him to others; but to do that we have to know Him and have Him within us, as the Lord of our life. And He will defend us from evil, from the devil. He is always lying in wait by our door, and wants to enter” (Pope Francis, Angelus address on January 3, 2016).

“Once again, it is harvest time. It is also Christmas season, a festive season. In spite of serious security challenges during the last farming season, many people braved it and put their lives on the line to cultivate their farms.

“We thank all those who did that. As usual, the harvest is a mixed bag. Reports coming from different parts of our Archdiocese indicate that while some areas have bumper harvest of some food and cash crops some were not that lucky.

“It is therefore pertinent to remind our farmers of the need to be careful and prudent in the use of farm produce. As already noted, the season is a festive one that calls for celebration. The usual temptation this time of the year is to sell farm produce at giveaway prices to celebrate.

“As always, we caution our farmers especially in the rural areas to be careful in the management of their farm produce, mindful of the fact that, though all we possess is for the common good, we know also that charity begins at home. Hence our farm produce are blessings from God for the wellbeing of our families.

“It is no longer news that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared 2025 a Jubilee Year with the theme: “Pilgrims of Hope” and has exhorted and challenged all the faithful to “fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and a far-sighted vision.” Let us each endeavour to pick up the Jubilee challenge.

“The Jubilee Year officially begins with the opening of the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, on December 24, 2024. Dioceses are expected to follow suit with the inauguration of the Jubilee Year with Mass in cathedrals on December 29, 2024.

“Our inauguration Mass will take place in St. Joseph’s Cathedral at the 9 am. Detailed programme of activities of the Jubilee Year in the Archdiocese has already been sent to parishes/pastoral areas and chaplaincies. Let us endeavour to follow the activities lined up in the course of the year for maximum benefits.
“I wish one and all a very Happy and Joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year”, he stated.

Earlier, the Bishop explained that christmas is therefore a feast of hope because, as Pope Francis has said, “notwithstanding the dark aspects of our lives, God’s light shines out. His gentle light does not make us fear because God who is love draws us to himself with his tenderness, born poor and fragile among us, as one of us” (ibid.).

He reiterated that the shepherds who were part of the marginalized of their society were the first to received the good news of the birth of the Saviour of the World, a clear testimony that in the sight of God, no one is marginalized or on the fringe.

“If anything, it shows us that the marginalized and the outcasts are the specially invited guests to the Nativity because they have room for the Incarnate Word in their hearts.