Opinion
The Church And Building Project
It can hardly be contested that Nigeria provides the classic example of Africa’s most ethnically segmented modern day country. At present, scholars are yet to agree on the total number of ethnic groups in Nigeria. They only extrapolated the various ethnic nationalities to be between two hundred and fifty and four hundred with diverse cultures, interest, sizes, distribution of power, influence and resources. The Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria is said to have more than five hundred and ten local languages and added to these is the religious pluralism.
It has to be noted from the outset that before the artificial creation of Nigeria by the British on1st January, 1914, which has been described as “mistake of 1914” and “geographically lopsided, ethnically absurd”, they did not consult the previously independent people. Worse still, the vast peoples compulsorily fused together were not well integrated. It was only government services that were amalgamated to satisfy their imperialistic motive. This resulted in the emergence of the North-South dichotomy in the dictionary of Nigeria’s national life. At the moment, the unilateral creation is responsible for many of the several debacles which are the bane of Nigeria as a federation.
It is common knowledge that Nigeria’s quest for nationhood has been under the assault of centrifugal forces such as lack of Nigerian based ideology, ethnic consciousness, religious bigotry, poverty, citizenship question, endemic corruption, clamour for resource control and self-determination, the Boko Haram menace, and so on since October 1st 1960 when Nigeria gained independence. At the root of all these were mutual distrust, intense competition rivalries and struggles over the modalities and power to control and/or share the distribution of political cum economic resources available in the nation among the desperate peoples. Having gone through all these, it necessary to forge sustainable nationhood in Nigeria by exploring other non-conflict methods to resolve the lingering and festering crises which often threaten the existence of the country. Given the strategic position occupy by the church, the leadership must be involved in the process of transforming Nigeria from a ‘mere geographical expression’ to an organic state where justice, equity and fair play will reign supreme.
It is thus necessary to know what the Nation building is all about. Obviously there are many definitions of a nation but let restrict ourselves to that which states that a nation refers to “the people of a territory united under a single government; country; state”. This applies to countries like Niger, Ghana, Zaire, and so on. Likewise, the term Nation building is the crave for nationhood – a political community – where the inhabitants will get equal access to the good things of life and where there will be intermingling of cultures in the economic, social and political systems.
However, the term ‘church’ here refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the Christian denominations. The word, Christian is a generic term coined from the word ‘Christ’. The word ‘Christ’ is a derivation from the Greek word ‘Christos’, which is akin to the Hebrew ‘Mashiah’, referring to the ‘anointed one’. Christianity which started as a Jewish religion is an offshoot of Judaism. It is a religion that is built on the life, teachings, belief and behaviour of Jesus Christ while on earth. Little surprise that His followers or those who behave like Him are often described as Christian that is, Christ-like.
It is discernable from the above discussion that nation building project is for all. And if left in the hands of the few (the elite), the project will continue to be an illusion. It is a fact of history that the church is at the forefront of the development of many nations, Nigeria inclusive. History tells us that Christianity brought literacy, the worship of only one God and the eradication of evil pagan practices. Christianity also impacted the lives of Nigerian’s through the building of orphanages, leprosiums, hospitals, maternity homes, dispensaries and clinics to see to the health needs of the people of Nigeria.
Today, the church has tremendously improved on its track record in the education sector. Most of the Christian Churches have established tertiary institutions to supplement the ones established by the government. In all, the over twenty four universities out of thirty eight private universities in Nigeria are owned by the Christian denominations. The church can do more in this regard and lead Nigeria out of the quagmire she often experience. This will be discussed under the following subheadings.
The church is an umbrella for all kinds of people. Today, all sorts of people, especially miracle seekers and the corrupt seek to exploit her. Such cramped attended church sessions like prayer, fasting, crusades, worship services, and so on can be used by church leaders as platforms to teach and preach anti-corruption messages. The worshippers should be taught to desist from all dishonest or illegal behaviours that will not bring glory to God.
Christians and Christian leaders should purge themselves of all dimensions and implications of corrupt acts and practices and stand boldly to use Bible passages like Prov. 17:23; 29:4, Eccl. 7:7, Is. 5:23, Lk. 3:4 etc to eradicate corruption from the system. Our business brethren should constantly be reminded of God’s position on corruption as stated in Lev. 19:36 you should have just balanced, just weights, a just ephah, and a just inn. For our Christian Politicians, it should be made known that God frowns at double standards, material acquisition, indiscipline, injustice, intimidation, oppression, Nepotism, bribery and greed. We must note that corruption has a disastrous effects as exemplifies in the cases of Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-29) and Gehazi (2 Kings 5:1-27).
UeBari-Samuel is a student of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, PH
N-Ue, UeBari-Samuel
From all indications, Nigeria possesses enough human and material resources to become a true economic powerhouse in Africa. According to the National Population Commission (NPC, 2023), the country’s population has grown steadily within the last decade, presently standing at about 220 million people—mostly young, vibrant, and innovative. Nigeria also remains the sixth-largest oil producer in the world, with enormous reserves of gas, fertile agricultural land, and human capital.
Yet, despite this enormous potential, the country continues to grapple with underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2023) show that about 129 million Nigerians currently live below the poverty line. Most families can no longer afford basic necessities, even as the government continues to project a rosy economic picture.
The Subsidy Question
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been one of the most controversial policy decisions in Nigeria’s recent history. According to the president, subsidy removal was designed to reduce fiscal burden, unify the foreign exchange rate, attract investment, curb inflation, and discourage excessive government borrowing.
While these objectives are theoretically sound, the reality for ordinary Nigerians has been severe hardship. Fuel prices more than tripled, transportation costs surged, and food inflation—already high—rose above 30% (NBS, 2023). The World Bank (2023) estimates that an additional 7.1 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty after subsidy removal.
A Critical Economic View
As an economist, I argue that the problem was not subsidy removal itself—which was inevitable—but the timing, sequencing, and structural gaps in Nigeria’s implementation.
- Structural Miscalculation
Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries remain nonfunctional. By removing subsidies without local refining capacity, the government exposed the economy to import-price pass-through effects—where global oil price shocks translate directly into domestic inflation. This was not just a timing issue but a fundamental policy miscalculation.
- Neglect of Social Safety Nets
Countries like Indonesia (2005) and Ghana (2005) removed subsidies successfully only after introducing cash transfers, transport vouchers, and food subsidies for the poor (World Bank, 2005). Nigeria, however, implemented removal abruptly, shifting the fiscal burden directly onto households without protection.
- Failure to Secure Food and Energy Alternatives
Fuel subsidy removal amplified existing weaknesses in agriculture and energy. Instead of sequencing reforms, government left Nigerians without refinery capacity, renewable energy alternatives, or mechanized agricultural productivity—all of which could have cushioned the shock.
Political and Public Concerns
Prominent leaders have echoed these concerns. Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the subsidy removal as “good but wrongly timed.” Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party also faulted the government’s hasty approach. Human rights activists like Obodoekwe Stive stressed that refineries should have been made functional first, to reduce the suffering of citizens.
This is not just political rhetoric—it reflects a widespread economic reality. When inflation climbs above 30%, when purchasing power collapses, and when households cannot meet basic needs, the promise of reform becomes overshadowed by social pain.
Broader Implications
The consequences of this policy are multidimensional:
- Inflationary Pressures – Food inflation above 30% has made nutrition unaffordable for many households.
- Rising Poverty – 7.1 million Nigerians have been newly pushed into poverty (World Bank, 2023).
- Middle-Class Erosion – Rising transport, rent, and healthcare costs are squeezing household incomes.
- Debt Concerns – Despite promises, government borrowing has continued, raising sustainability questions.
- Public Distrust – When government promises savings but citizens feel only pain, trust in leadership erodes.
In effect, subsidy removal without structural readiness has widened inequality and eroded social stability.
Missed Opportunities
Nigeria’s leaders had the chance to approach subsidy removal differently:
- Refinery Rehabilitation – Ensuring local refining to reduce exposure to global oil price shocks.
- Renewable Energy Investment – Diversifying energy through solar, hydro, and wind to reduce reliance on imported petroleum.
- Agricultural Productivity – Mechanization, irrigation, and smallholder financing could have boosted food supply and stabilized prices.
- Social Safety Nets – Conditional cash transfers, food vouchers, and transport subsidies could have protected the most vulnerable.
Instead, reform came abruptly, leaving citizens to absorb all the pain while waiting for theoretical long-term benefits.
Conclusion: Reform With a Human Face
Fuel subsidy removal was inevitable, but Nigeria’s approach has worsened hardship for millions. True reform must go beyond fiscal savings to protect citizens.
Economic policy is not judged only by its efficiency but by its humanity. A well-sequenced reform could have balanced fiscal responsibility with equity, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians were not crushed under the weight of sudden change.
Nigeria has the resources, population, and resilience to lead Africa’s economy. But leadership requires foresight. It requires policies that are inclusive, humane, and strategically sequenced.
Reform without equity is displacement of poverty, not development. If Nigeria truly seeks progress, its policies must wear a human face.
References
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Poverty and Inequality Report. Abuja.
- National Population Commission (NPC). (2023). Population Estimates. Abuja.
- World Bank. (2023). Nigeria Development Update. Washington, DC.
- World Bank. (2005). Fuel Subsidy Reforms: Lessons from Indonesia and Ghana. Washington, DC.
- OPEC. (2023). Annual Statistical Bulletin. Vienna.
By: Amarachi Amaugo