In a bold and emotionally charged statement, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has declared that he has “never been as unsure of Nigeria’s future” as he is today, calling out the nation’s leaders and citizens over decades of misplaced priorities.
The respected cleric lamented that after independence, while other nations rolled up their sleeves to build strong economies, Nigeria instead “went into endless prayers and fasting,” abandoning practical development.
According to him, while Nigerians were praying:
Malaysia came to Nigeria, took palm seedlings, and built a global palm industry.
Singapore invested massively in technology.
India advanced in ICT.
China embraced industrialization.
UAE focused on infrastructure and tourism.
Japan pursued innovation and engineering excellence.
Denmark prioritized education.
USA launched people to the moon.
Meanwhile, back home, Nigeria replaced research and innovation with vigils, crusades, binding and casting.
Bishop Kukah argued that God, being just, rewarded each nation according to the labour they invested:
Those who worked got development.
Those who only prayed built megachurches.
Today, Nigeria has more religious centres than hospitals and schools. Citizens rush to prayer houses for solutions that require science, data, and planning. Businesses collapse because people pray instead of writing proposals. Buildings collapse because faith replaced engineering standards. Vehicles break down because road safety is ignored while “God is in control.”
According to Kukah, religion has overtaken governance, technology, infrastructure, and education—and Nigeria is paying the price.
He stresses that Nigerians must stop blaming witches and demons for problems that simple planning, maintenance, and diligence would solve.
His message ends with a sober warning:
“God has already given us what we need to build a nation. But we keep handing everything back to Him.”
👇 Drop your comment in the comment box.
