The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Henry Ndukuba, has identified corruption as Nigeria’s greatest threat to security, emphasizing that the nation cannot fully experience the prosperity bestowed by God until corruption is eradicated.
The cleric expressed strong concern over the widespread looting of Nigeria’s resources, which he said has led to the impoverishment of the country’s citizens.
He attributed the worsening situation to the inability of authorities to hold corrupt individuals accountable, thereby emboldening others to commit similar offenses.
Primate Ndukuba, a former Bishop of the Gombe Diocese, made these remarks during the 25th anniversary celebration and the launch of a N500 million fundraiser for the Walter Miller College of Nursing and Midwifery in Kaltungo, Gombe State.
Speaking with journalists after the event, he highlighted the link between corruption and poverty, describing it as a fundamental source of insecurity in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a blessed country. In fact, what we have is enough to go round, but then you see a man in his senses stealing billions of naira and nothing is done; he gets away with it,” Ndukuba said.
“This is where people who are blessed in privileged positions use the opportunity they have to loot the treasury. Corruption is the greatest insecurity in Nigeria. Until we kill corruption, Nigeria will not enjoy the prosperity that God has given it and until we deal with wickedness, there will be no peace, because without justice we can’t get peace.”
The Primate emphasized the necessity of collaboration between government and citizens to combat corruption and ensure security. He pointed out that maintaining peace and harmony is a shared responsibility.
“Not only maintaining security in Nigeria, there is a need for the leadership, both government and the people, to work together, because security is the business of all of us. We need to work together to maintain peace and harmony and promote those factors that will ensure peaceful co-existence and security in Nigeria,” he stated.
Reflecting on his visit to Gombe State, Ndukuba described it as a remarkable experience and praised the cooperative efforts of the government, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in fostering peace and development.
“This is coming home and it’s so lovely to step on the grounds of Gombe and we thank God for the great things that the Lord is doing. What the Lord is doing through the governor and the leaders of Gombe State is marvellous,” he said.
He lauded the state’s leadership for maintaining an environment conducive to legitimate businesses and security, adding, “With all that is happening in terms of insecurity in Nigeria, this is one of those states where people can close their eyes and sleep.”
Discussing the Walter Miller College of Nursing and Midwifery, Ndukuba underscored its importance in addressing the shortage of healthcare personnel in the North-East.
He appealed for support from government agencies, religious organizations, and philanthropists to bring the college to full operational capacity.
“By the time the Lord gave us the vision to establish the college of nursing and midwifery, the North-East where we served was one of the most dangerous places to give birth because the infant mortality was high and women who died while giving birth was high.
“We thought of one thing the church must do in working with the government to take care of the people, because the government may not do everything. So the church and religious organisations must partner with the government to provide for the people. That was how we came up with this vision.”
The college, according to Ndukuba, aims to train professionals with both skills and a deep sense of moral responsibility. He called for increased investment in the health sector, urging leaders to prioritize the well-being of the less privileged.
Ndukuba made a passionate appeal to influential individuals and organizations to address the suffering of the poor.
He criticized the excessive display of wealth by some religious leaders and affluent individuals, urging them to channel resources toward alleviating poverty and supporting community development.
“Our people are suffering, so we can’t afford to close our eyes. Let the rich, and the privileged in society rise to help. Let the religious organisations help. Instead of showcasing our wealth, driving big cars and flying in private jets, we should turn to the needs of the people. The best thing to do is to sow in the lives of the people,” he added.
