Bishop Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto says Nigeria lacks “measurable progress” because the country has chosen darkness over light.

In his 2024 Christmas message, the cleric highlighted corruption, nepotism, and ethnic and religious divides as major obstacles to the nation’s development.

“Nigeria’s lack of visible and measurable progress is tied to the fact that we have chosen darkness rather than light,” Mr Kukah said.

He continued, “Imagine if we let the light shine on our public service, our politics, our individual and community lives, and on our public institutions. Imagine what Nigeria would be like if we chose light instead of darkness.”

Mr Kukah pointed to unemployment and religious extremism as key issues that must be addressed to overcome the country’s insecurity challenges, describing religious extremists as criminals and murderers.

“Insecurity cannot be overcome without addressing unemployment and violent religious extremism, which create conditions for violence,” he said.

The cleric urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, regardless of the challenges, and not to use systemic failures in Nigeria as an excuse for wrongdoing.

“We are the world’s light, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We must not allow the weaknesses and failures of the Nigerian state to become an excuse for doing wrong,” Mr Kukah said.