The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has expressed concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s recent social intervention programs, suggesting they may face similar failures to those seen under the regime of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida.
The bishops made this statement during their plenary meeting in Auchi, Edo State, over the weekend.
Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri and President of the CBCN, criticized the Tinubu administration’s economic strategies, likening them to the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) introduced during Babangida’s rule, which led to widespread economic hardship and social unrest.
Despite Babangida’s efforts to cushion the impact of SAP through initiatives like the Directorate for Food, Roads, and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI), the Better Life for Rural Women program, and Mass Transit initiatives, these measures failed to prevent the economic collapse.
“Even Babangida admitted to the failure of his economic policies,” Archbishop Ugorji noted, referring to a 1992 interview in which Babangida conceded that his administration’s attempts to fix the economy had been unsuccessful and that the Nigerian economy was resistant to conventional solutions.
Drawing lessons from past failures, Ugorji urged the Tinubu administration to reconsider its economic reforms, suggesting that the government should be more receptive to advice from respected national figures. “The ‘shipwreck’ of one man should serve as a ‘ship-guide’ for another,” he said, calling for a more inclusive approach to formulating economic policies.
Under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria continues to grapple with inflation and soaring food prices, contributing to the worsening hardship faced by many Nigerians. The Catholic bishops’ cautionary remarks highlight growing concerns about the government’s ability to navigate the nation out of its current economic challenges.
