Don’t take another loan, Bishop Mamza urges President Tinubu
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider plans by the federal government to secure fresh foreign loans, warning that such borrowing would further mortgage the future of the country and deepen economic hardship.
Speaking to journalists in Yola on Sunday as part of activities marking the Catholic Church’s World Communication Sunday, Bishop Mamza cautioned that Nigeria’s current debt profile is already suffocating, noting that additional loans could worsen the country’s socio-economic crisis.
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“We have heard about the billions of dollars the government is planning to borrow again. My appeal to President Tinubu is, don’t borrow money again.
“Instead, there should be proper accountability for the huge sums already recovered by agencies like the EFCC. Nigerians want to know the whereabout of such monies,” he said.
He stressed that relying on external borrowing rather than strengthening internal revenue generation and eliminating financial leakages will do more harm than good in the long run. According to him, what the country needs is transparency, effective governance, and economic prudence — not more debt.
The cleric’s comments come at a time when Nigerians are facing rising inflation, increasing poverty levels, and widespread insecurity.
He noted that many citizens have lost hope in the system due to poor leadership and bad economic decisions, stressing that this year’s global theme for World Communication Sunday, “Sharing with Gentleness the Hope in Your Heart” could not be more relevant for Nigeria.
“This year was declared by the late Pope Francis as the Year of Hope. And in a nation like Nigeria, where so many feel hopeless due to insecurity, poverty, and political instability, the Church is encouraging everyone not to give up,” Bishop Mamza explained.
He urged the media to play a responsible role in nation-building by remaining objective, courageous, and committed to truth-telling.
“Your work as journalists is dangerous and sensitive. We always keep you in our prayers. But it’s not enough to rely on prayers alone. You must also remain committed to truthful reporting — report the facts without stirring further crisis in our communities,” he said.
Bishop Mamza also revealed that Nigerian Catholic Bishops will have an audience with the Pope in March 2026 during their Ad Limina visit, a periodic consultation where each bishop meets the Holy Father to discuss issues affecting the Church and their dioceses.
He noted that Nigeria is among the first four countries the Pope has approved for this important visit, underscoring the Vatican’s interest in the country’s situation.
“Despite everything happening around us, hope must be renewed. Things can change. God is with us — but we must also take responsibility and demand accountability from those who lead us,” he said.
