Address unemployment, extremism to end insecurity – Kukah

The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has said Nigeria’s protracted insecurity cannot be resolved without addressing unemployment and violent religious extremism, which he described as breeding grounds for violence.

Delivering his Christmas message at the Holy Family Cathedral Catholic Church, Sokoto Diocese, Kukah lamented the nation’s lack of measurable progress, which he attributed to a preference for “darkness rather than light.”

“Nigeria’s lack of visible and measurable progress is tied to the fact that we have chosen darkness rather than light,” he said. “Imagine if we let the light shine on our public service, on our politics, on our individual, community, and national life, and on our public institutions. Imagine what Nigeria would be like if we chose light instead of darkness.”

The cleric stressed that meaningful change requires embracing transparency, accountability, and integrity in both public and private life. He urged Nigerians to embody the Christian hymn “They will know we are Christians by our love” and to reject the divisive forces of ethnicity, nepotism, and greed.

“We are still unable to embrace the ideals of our national anthem that says: ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’ Diversity is a gift from God. Let us use it effectively as a tool for national mobilisation and cohesion,” he said.

Kukah identified unemployment and religious extremism as major drivers of insecurity, adding that tackling these issues is essential for stability.

“Insecurity cannot be overcome without addressing unemployment and violent religious extremism, which breed conditions for violence,” he said. He further called for the strict enforcement of laws to prosecute extremists, describing them as “criminals and murderers.”