The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, has urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the country’s deepening economic and security challenges, declaring that “suffering does not mean abandonment” because God remains with the nation.
In his Christmas message titled “God Is With Us: A Message of Hope for Nigerians at Christmas” on Friday, Archbishop Ugorji noted that the celebration of Christmas offers a powerful reassurance that Nigeria’s present difficulties do not define its future.
He said: “At Christmas, the Church proclaims the truth upon which all Christian hope rests: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God did not respond to the brokenness of the world with distance or indifference. He responded by drawing near.”
He stressed that the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated as Emmanuel,. God with us, remains the foundation of Christian hope, especially in moments of national distress as he lamented that “Nigeria today carries heavy wounds.”
The CBCN President cited “economic hardship, insecurity, displacement, and persistent violence” which, according to him, have left many Nigerians “fearful, weary, and uncertain,” as he made particular reference to the recent abduction of students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the widespread insecurity confronting the country.
“We recall with deep pain the abduction of students and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and the anguish of families whose loved ones remain in captivity. They are human lives of immeasurable worth, each bearing the image of God.”
Despite the grim realities, he insisted that Christmas proclaims a deeper and enduring truth saying, “Yet Christmas proclaims a deeper truth: suffering does not mean abandonment because God has entered history, history is never closed. Christian hope does not deny evil, but it refuses to concede that evil is final.”
He noted that even when answers seem delayed and outcomes uncertain, hope reassures Nigerians that no life was forgotten and that every effort to protect life and restore dignity participates in God’s saving work.
The Catholic leader argued that the message of Christmas challenges Nigerians to believe that peace, justice, and national renewal are still possible.
“Because the birth of Christ assures us that evil does not have the final word, Christmas opens before us the path toward hope and renewal. Peace can be built, unity restored, and justice take root when truth and human dignity are respected.”
While acknowledging the damage caused by corruption and injustice, Archbishop Ugorji said the nation’s wounds are not beyond healing.
“While injustice has wounded our common life, Christmas assures us that these patterns are not irreversible. What has been fractured can be rebuilt, and what has been wounded can be healed, if we accept the shared responsibility this hope demands.”
He also drew attention to the quiet resilience of ordinary Nigerians, describing their daily acts of courage and integrity as signs that the nation’s moral foundation remains intact.
“Across our communities, many Nigerians quietly choose courage over fear, honesty over corruption, and service over self-interest. These daily acts of faithfulness remind us that the moral heart of our nation is still alive.”
The cleric called on Nigerians to see the country through the lens of hope, as he added that Christmas invites citizens to envision Nigeria “not only as she is, but as she is called to be.
“Emmanuel, God with us, assures us that our story is not finished, that grace is still at work in our land, and that hope remains stronger than fear. Let the light of Christmas shine forth anew in our land.and the birth of the Saviour open new horizons of peace in our dear nation.”
