The call was made in a communique issued at the end of the bishops’ first meeting of 2026, held from January 19–20 at the Jubilee Conference Centre, Ibadan.
Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on the Federal Government to sustain its renewed fight against insecurity in Nigeria, insisting that the protection of lives and property remains a sacred duty of the state.
The call was made in a communique issued at the end of the bishops’ first meeting of 2026, held from January 19–20 at the Jubilee Conference Centre, Ibadan.
The meeting brought together bishops from Ibadan Archdiocese and the dioceses of Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo.
“We support the recent zealous change in approach of the Federal Government to the issue of insecurity in Nigeria,” the bishops said, noting that “recent developments have shown that when governments demonstrate the political will to act, even insecurity can be curtailed.”
Signed by the Chairman and secretary, Most Rev. ‘Leke Gabriel Abegunrin, and Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, respectively, they urged authorities at federal, state and local levels to work together to criminalise and prosecute banditry, kidnapping and insurgency, stressing that “the equal application of the law to all without fear or favour is a necessary strategy.”
The bishops also called on all Nigerians to unite for peace, reminding the nation that “all life is sacred and nobody has the right to take someone else’s life.”
On the economy, the bishops addressed ongoing tax reforms, acknowledging widespread concerns. While recognising government efforts to explain the reforms, they cautioned that “fairness, transparency and accountability must govern the conduct of government and the tax authorities.”
They appealed for patience and compassion, urging that vulnerable citizens be given time to adjust before “the full force of the law” is applied.
The bishops also welcomed recent progress in the education sector, particularly the agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
They described it as “deserving of unmitigated commendation” and called for its diligent implementation to end repeated strikes. They further appealed for support to be extended to private and mission universities, noting that “they all train future leaders of the Nigerian nation.”
Addressing Church matters, the bishops reaffirmed the mission of the Church to bring “liberty to captives, good news to the poor and hope for the oppressed.”
They urged wider promotion of Catholic Social Teaching, describing its principles as “effective and reliable for social engineering and the advancement of society.”
They also emphasised catechesis, endorsing the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church (YOUCAT) as a basic text for youths and adults across the province. According to them, ongoing formation is vital “given the complexities of contemporary life and modern ideologies.”
The communique concluded with a call to prayer and good works.
“Prayer must be accompanied by a commitment to good works wherever we find ourselves,” the bishops said, urging Nigerians to resist cynicism and work with hope for a better future.