Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - “We are deeply concerned about the current global economic recession and the consequences it has unleashed on an already impoverished Nigerian population especially coming on the heels of the recent global food crisis,” says the final statement from the meeting of the National Office for Justice, Development, and Peace of Caritas Nigeria. The meeting, which was attended by the Provincial Coordinators and Secretaries of 9 Church provinces, was held in Abuja, February 17-19.
“The inadequacies of the global financial system has been made manifest and the dangers of over dependence on our human capabilities without recourse to divine guidance and directions in our affairs has become more apparent. We call on relevant government agencies to identify and implement policies and programmes that have a significant cushioning effect on the Nigerian population,” says the document, a copy of which was sent to Agenzia Fides.
Among the first victims of the crisis are the children, whose living conditions are experiencing a sharp decline. The Caritas Nigeria National Office writes: “we note with dismay and with a lot of concern too the continuing degeneration of the situation of the Nigerian child. Our maternal mortality rates remain one of the highest in the world. Access to health care delivery is extremely limited especially in rural communities and our children continue to die in large numbers from preventable diseases. Many of the states have refused, failed or neglected to adopt the Child Rights Act and even those that have adopted this progressive piece of legislation have failed to implement its provisions. We call on relevant governmental agencies to demonstrate their commitment to the Nigerian people through the initiation of people oriented policies and programmes that will make the concerns of our children paramount.”
Among the other problems that afflict Nigeria is that of the episodes of violence striking several regions in both in the Niger Delta and in the country's south. In particular, in Jos, there have been recent clashes, supposedly “of a religious nature” however, they are really caused by use of religious and “ethnic” factors by local political figures.
“The recent crisis in Jos which has occasioned significant but avoidable and unnecessary loss of lives and destruction of property is very unfortunate to say the least. This is particularly against the background of series of initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and inter-religious harmony in this region of the country. We commiserate with the families that have lost loved ones and we pray that Almighty God will forgive them their sins and bring their souls to eternal rest,” the statement says.
In reference to the Niger Delta situation, Caritas affirms: “we are deeply concerned about the deplorable security situation in the Niger delta region characterized by kidnapping of persons and subsequent demands for payment of ransom. We call on all genuine advocates of resource control to take advantage of the newly created Ministry for Niger Delta and to abandon all uncivilized forms of agitation which have tended to give us a negative image in the comity of nations. Similarly we are concerned about rising cases of attacks targeted at police officers and other security operatives and we call on the relevant authorities to adequately equip our security men for the fight against crime and criminality in our country Nigeria. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 24/2/2009)
