Calabar Methodist Synod Demands Security Reforms, End To Economic Hardship

Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Calabar, has urged the federal government to restructure the nation’s security architecture and provide “sophisticated weapons that can give an upper hand to soldiers tackling terrorists and bandits.”

The call was part of several resolutions reached after the 50th Annual Synod of Wesley Cathedral in Calabar, which ended yesterday.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP after the synod, His Grace, The Most Reverend Chimezuo Nwankpa, Archbishop and Bishop of Calabar, said the church is “deeply concerned about insecurity.”

He called for the re-integration and empowerment of all released kidnapped Nigerians captured by terrorists in some parts of the country.

In a communiqué dated April 19, 2026, signed by Methodist Lay president, Dr. Edet Jonah KJW, and Archbishop Nwankpa, the Synod expressed “dismay at the unbearable level of corrupt practices, nepotism and fraudulent acts in Nigeria.”

The Synod urged the federal government to strengthen the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ICPC, and other related agencies “to tackle this abnormality.”

On the economy, it called for the rehabilitation of the three refineries to restore the internal reserve of petroleum to “help reduce the high cost of transportation for Nigerians, especially in time of global economic crisis.”

It also stressed the need for proper economic distribution of goods and services, and directed the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct a National Population Census without further delay, noting that the last one was “20 years ago.”

Under the theme “I will fight for you,” with reference from the Book of Exodus 14:14, the Synod admonished Christian community globally to “sue for peace and love, to radiate rapid growth and developments in the society.”

While commending President Bola Tinubu “on his administrative prowess in upholding the progress and unity of Nigeria,” it urged him to curb the spate of insecurity and “cushion the effects of obnoxious economic policies that have brought economic hardship to Nigerians.”

On healthcare, the Church frowned at the low level of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria, which it said is “less than 10%” for a country of over 200 million citizens, thereby denying many access to healthcare.

It called on relevant health institutions to “put every machinery in place to improve the Health Care System for the poor Nigerian Citizens.”

The Synod also urged Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu to “declare a State Emergency on Calabar-Itu, Ikom-Calabar, Ikom-Obudu federal highways,” which it said have remained in a poor state in the last 25 years and “had brought innocent souls to early graves.”

Addressing unemployment, the Synod asked the Federal Ministry of Education to monitor the implementation of Skill Trades in the educational curriculum to boost youths’ global economic competitiveness and job accessibility.

It added that youths and the unemployed should “embrace Skills Acquisition as a veritable tool for global employment.”

The Synod decried the “recent cross-carpeting of some politicians from one party to the other” and warned against the dangers of a one-party system in Nigeria’s polity.

It demanded “free, fair and credible elections by INEC to produce popular candidates come 2027 General Elections” and sued for transparency of the Electoral Tribunals for post-election activities in Nigeria come 2027.