The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop giving excuses and immediately take decisive steps to protect citizens as violent attacks continue to escalate across the country.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the call on Wednesday at the opening of the 32nd Triennial General Assembly of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) held at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Wuse II, Abuja.
Addressing delegates and clerics, Okoh said Nigeria has reached a critical point where insecurity demands unified Christian advocacy and firm national responsibility. Speaking on the Assembly’s theme, “Demand for Justice and Righteousness,” drawn from Amos 5:24, he warned that the nation’s growing instability threatens its very core.
“The government has a constitutional, moral, and sacred responsibility to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians without discrimination, without delay, and without excuses,” he said.
Okoh urged the CCN to continue backing CAN’s call for stronger national action, stressing the Church’s duty to demand justice for communities devastated by violence. He listed priority areas where urgent federal intervention is required, including:
· Strengthening security institutions
· Prosecuting perpetrators of violent crimes
· Supporting displaced families
· Rebuilding destroyed communities
· Addressing the root causes of insecurity
“Our voices must not waver. Our message must remain consistent and sincere,” Okoh added, calling on churches to defend vulnerable groups and reflect Christ-like values in their daily lives.
He reminded Christian leaders that true witness goes beyond prayers and rituals. “Our witness will not be judged merely by our prayers or magnificent sanctuaries, but by how faithfully we reflect the character of Christ in our commitment to justice, compassion, and righteousness.”
The CAN President commended the CCN for its decades-long service as Nigeria’s oldest ecumenical body, acknowledging its role in promoting unity, justice, and peace. Reaffirming CAN’s partnership with the Council, he said both organisations remain committed to advancing moral integrity and national healing.
“Together, we will continue to uphold the unity of the Body of Christ, defend the oppressed, and advance the values of God’s kingdom on earth,” he said.
Archbishop Okoh formally declared open the 32nd Triennial General Assembly and the 96th anniversary of the CCN, expressing hope that deliberations would strengthen collective resolve to build a Nigeria where justice prevails and citizens live free from fear.
