AFRICA/NIGERIA - “The Jubilee Year of St. Paul is a year of renewal on the mission of the Church,” say the Bishops, praising the improvements of the country’s social conditions, although there is still work left to be done.

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “We commend the one year in office of President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua. We note an increase in peace and tranquility, religious coexistence, fairness and the rule of law.” These were the words of the Nigerian Bishops, as they express their satisfaction and encouragement for the improvements of the country’s social conditions. At the close of the Plenary Assembly that took place in Jos, September 8-13, the Nigerian Bishops’ Conference published a statement entitled, “Towards a spiritual and social transformation,” a copy of which was sent to Agenzia Fides.
The Bishops encourage all Nigerians to make their contribution to the progress and improvement of the nation. The Bishops’ Conference expresses their willingness to collaborate in solving the Niger Delta crisis: “We commend the Niger-Delta Development Council (NDDC) - Church consultations through which government agencies of the Niger-Delta region collaborate with Christian leaders in solving problems in the region and charting the way forward. As partners in social progress and following Christ, the Sun of Justice and Prince of Peace, the Church continues to offer her prayers, wisdom and charitable works for the welfare of the suffering and needy.”
However, the Bishops also note that there are still serious problems left to resolve: “Despite huge capital investments in the power sector, incessant power failure is still the lot of Nigerians, creating an atmosphere of despair. Insecurity, characterized by spates of armed robbery, kidnapping and killings, adds to this sense of hopelessness. Corruption still remains unabated. The consideration of merit in admission into institutions of learning, employment and promotion, has been thrown to the wind. Nepotism and mediocrity seem to have been elevated to an art.” The loss of a large number of lives from a petroleum fire disaster, “illustrates the volatile nature of the nation’s social life. Government should do more to prevent all man-made disasters. Pipelines should not be carelessly exposed but buried deep.”
As regards the Church, the Nigerian Bishops’ Conference expresses its gratitude to the Holy Father for the appointment of Msgr Jude Thaddeus Okolo, a priest of Nnewi Diocese as Nuncio to Chad and the Central African Republic. The Bishops pointed out that, “the Jubilee Year of St. Paul (June 2008 – June 2009) is a year of renewal on the mission of the Church, especially as an agent of truth, justice, development and peace. All the clergy, religious and lay members of Christ’s faithful in Nigeria are called upon to imitate the zeal and follow the footsteps of St. Paul in preaching the Good News in season and out of season.” As to the preparatory document for the Synod of Bishops in October, on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church, the Bishops invite the clergy, religious, and faithful to use the Lectio Divina “as an effective pastoral instrument and a valuable tool in the Church in the education and pastoral formation.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 15/9/2008)