The Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, says 2025 will be a better year for Nigerians.
Ndukuba made the assertion at a news conference on the state of the nation on Monday in Abuja.
He said that though 2024 was a challenging year for Nigerians, the country would reap many benefits from its present situation in the year 2025.
He said that the removal of fuel subsidy, increase in oil prices, hyperinflation in food prices, and the financial difficulties, no doubt made 2024 more challenging than 2023.
He, however, likened the challenges to the pain of childbearing that comes with much joy at the end of the day.
Ndukuba commended the country’s fiscal and economic managers, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for striving to ensure stability in the country’s economy.
He also commended Nigerians’ resilience, hope, prayers, endurance, and perseverance, even under the weight of economic hardship and insecurity.
“If you will ask me about 2024, I will say that 2025 will be better and greater than 2024. What we have experienced and seen this year is part of the process of bringing us to where we are going.
“That will not mean that in 2025, there will be no challenges. The challenges will still be there. But, what we trust God is that the solution will begin to play out.
“We will begin to reap much more of what has been sown this year, and there will be better stability.
“Not only in the terms of our value for our naira, but also in fuel pump prices and also some of the micro and macroeconomic policies that are already being put in place will begin to play out,’’ he said.
Ndukuba, however, urged the country to tackle the issues of greed and corruption if the country must enjoy the good tiding of 2025.
On the Christmas celebration, Ndukuba advised Nigerian Christians to celebrate with moderation in line with the economic reality.
According to him, Christian faithful should avoid squandering all they gathered throughout the year in the name of celebrating Christmas.
He rather stressed on the need to celebrate the season with Christ in their heart by supporting, and sharing with one another with the love of God, especially the less privileged in the society.
“In whatever we do, whether we eat or we drink, it must be done in moderation. Let us not indulge in things that will dishonour God or dishonour our dignity as human beings.
“We know that the situation in Nigeria today is so dire and challenging that some families may not even have the usual rice and the food and meat to celebrate. So whatever we have, let’s share with others,’’ he said.
Ndukuba also urged Nigerians to use the season of Christmas to foster reconnection between the leaders and the followers.
“There is so much for us to learn from the lessons of Christmas, both the followers and leaders.
“The leaders must learn to love and appreciate the citizens as well cherish the fact that the opportunity given to them is for a purpose.
“It is for the good of the common man and not an opportunity for them to amass as much as they could,’’ he said.
He said that the poverty in the country was not because “Nigeria is poor’’ but a demonstration of greed manifesting in corruption.
“Unless we kill it, no matter our religiosity, Nigeria will remain a country that is almost being vandalised.
“But we are trusting God that there will be a turnaround and a change of heart,’’ Ndukuba said.
