Tinubu Tells Catholic Bishops: “We Are Stabilising Nigeria”
By: Abudu Olalekan
President Bola Tinubu sat down with leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria on Tuesday at the State House in Abuja, and he had a clear message — we’re getting a handle on things.
The meeting was led on the bishops’ side by Most Reverend Matthew Ndagoso, Archbishop of Kaduna and CBCN President, who came with nineteen other bishops in tow. That’s a sizeable delegation. And the conversation covered a lot of ground — security, education, elections, even the old question of mission schools.
But security dominated.
“We Will Defeat Terrorism”
Tinubu didn’t dance around the subject. He told the bishops plainly that Nigeria’s security setup is being restructured from the ground up. Better intelligence gathering. Repositioning of security institutions. More logistical support for troops. And — this one matters — prioritising the welfare of frontline personnel.
He also revealed that he’s just approved expanding the armed forces. New equipment coming in. New barracks being built. The works.
“We will defeat terrorism,” he said. And then, in a move that was equal parts political and personal, he asked the bishops to make it part of their sermons. He wants religious leaders actively condemning violent attacks, guiding their congregations, and backing the government’s push to end insurgency.
“We don’t have another country but here, this Nigeria,” Tinubu said, circling back to the national anthem. “In our complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all and humanity.”
He kept referencing the anthem throughout. It clearly means something to him.
On the Economy: “The Alarm for Bankruptcy Has Been Changed”
This is where Tinubu got personal. He acknowledged — openly — that he inherited a mess. Assets and liabilities, as he put it, borrowing from his professional background. But he pushed back hard against the narrative that Nigeria is still stuck in crisis mode.
“The country has been placed on a sound footing,” he said. “The economy has recovered. The alarm for bankruptcy and dark tunnel of uncertainty that we had when I came in has been changed.”
Bold words. Whether everyone agrees is another matter entirely. But Tinubu sounded confident. He talked about prosperity being on the horizon. Life improving. Government interventions like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund helping families directly.
And then he made a point that, honestly, landed pretty well.
“ASUU is not on strike,” he said, referring to the Academic Staff Union of Universities whose frequent industrial actions have disrupted Nigerian education for decades. “They are not bringing agony to our homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers?”
For anyone who’s lived through those endless ASUU strikes, that hits different. He called it answered prayer. Hard to argue with the sentiment, even if the broader picture is more complicated.
He urged citizens to take advantage of opportunities the government and private institutions are creating — education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition. The usual talking points, sure. But in this context, they felt a bit more grounded.
Elections and INEC
Tinubu also touched on preparations for the general election. He was pretty direct about it.
INEC has been neutral, he said. Opportunities are equal. No intimidation. And if political opponents are crying wolf? Well, according to Tinubu, maybe they’re “afraid of their own shadows and uncertainty in the companies they keep.”
That’s a jab. No question about it. Make of it what you will.
What the Bishops Wanted
Ndagoso didn’t just come to listen. The CBCN president laid out several areas of concern — security obviously, but also quality tertiary education and the fact that university spaces remain limited. He talked about sustaining democratic gains, ensuring credible elections, and tackling poverty.
He also raised two issues that carry particular weight for the Catholic community. First, the return of mission schools — something the church has been pushing for across multiple administrations. Tinubu’s response? That’s a state governor issue. The constitution gives governors the authority to decide on that, he said. A diplomatic sidestep, some might say.
Second, Ndagoso urged fair treatment for all worshippers across the country, including provision of worship places without bias. That’s a sensitive topic in Nigeria, and the fact that it was raised directly with the president says something about the level of concern.
The CBCN president also thanked Tinubu for the warm reception given to Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, who had visited to mark fifty years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Vatican.
Who Was in the Room
The delegation included some prominent figures — Most Reverend Alfred Martins, Archbishop of Lagos and CBCN Vice President; Most Reverend Peter Odetoyinbo, Bishop of Abeokuta and CBCN Secretary; and Most Reverend Moses Chikwe, Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri and CBCN Assistant Secretary, among others.
Twenty bishops sitting across from a president. That’s not a courtesy call. That’s a conversation that carries weight. Whether it translates into action is what everyone will be watching for.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
