Archbishop Calls for Urgent Action on Youth Unemployment and Prison Reform in Nigeria
Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji emphasized the urgent issue of youth unemployment in Nigeria, linking it to rising crime rates and radicalization. He called for government intervention to create job opportunities and criticized the dire conditions in correctional facilities. He urged the judiciary to expedite legal processes to protect inmates’ rights and dignity amidst Nigeria’s worsening security and economic crises.
In a recent address at the First 2025 Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Plenary Assembly, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji expressed grave concerns about youth unemployment in Nigeria, describing it as a major factor contributing to rising crime rates in the nation. He asserted that the frustration stemming from joblessness renders the youth vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment into violent organizations.
Archbishop Ugorji further lamented the dire circumstances faced by many jobless youths, leading them toward criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, drug abuse, cybercrime, and cultism. He emphasized the desperation that has driven youths to seek spiritual powers for instant wealth, illustrating a troubling trend of compromising personal faith in exchange for material gain.
The Archbishop issued a clarion call to both Federal and State governments to prioritize the youth unemployment crisis, warning that without urgent action to create sustainable job opportunities, the nation risks deepening its struggles with insecurity and violent crime. He urged government authorities to approach this issue with utmost seriousness and dedication.
Additionally, Archbishop Ugorji addressed the state of youth incarcerated in Nigeria, criticizing the conditions within correctional centers. He deemed the facilities as outdated and unhygienic, where inmates endure overcrowding and insufficient access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, and medical care.
Highlighting the prolonged detention of many inmates, the Archbishop pointed out that a significant percentage are awaiting trial, often for years, which exacerbates their suffering. He condemned the physical and psychological abuse prevalent in Nigerian prisons, arguing that such treatment undermines human dignity and fundamental rights.
To alleviate these injustices, he called on the judiciary to expedite legal processes, asserting that negligence in this area fosters further injustice within the system. Archbishop Ugorji also expressed alarm over Nigeria’s deteriorating security landscape, attributing the prevailing economic hardships and violence to ineffective governance and a failure to utilize advanced technological solutions in law enforcement.
In conclusion, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji’s statements underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address youth unemployment and improve conditions within Nigeria’s correctional facilities. His passionate call for government action reflects the critical interlinkages between employment opportunities, crime rates, and human rights. Furthermore, his insistence on expediting judicial processes highlights a broader need for systemic reforms to safeguard the dignity and well-being of all citizens.
Original Source: www.aciafrica.org
