By Paschal Norbert
LAGOS, JANUARY 21, 2025 (CISA) – Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, has called on the government and private sector to shift from short-term palliative measures to sustainable empowerment strategies for citizens. As Nigerians face the challenges of a new year, he urged a focus on long-term solutions that empower individuals to achieve financial independence and dignity.
In a statement signed by Fr Anthony Godonu, Director of Social Communications for the Archdiocese of Lagos, the Archbishop delivered a New Year message emphasizing the importance of equipping Nigerians with skills, creating gainful employment opportunities, and fostering entrepreneurship through soft loans for small and medium-scale enterprises.
“We must take time, as individuals and as a people, to reflect sincerely and honestly on our successes and failures in the past year so that we can work out ways of making 2025 a more fruitful year for all and sundry,” Archbishop Martins urged.
Archbishop Martins stressed that distributing temporary relief packages often fails to address systemic issues, advocating instead for initiatives that tackle the root causes of poverty and unemployment.
“Judging from the recent tragic events that marred the good intentions of some individuals and groups to provide palliatives for vulnerable Nigerians, we need to rethink our strategies for helping the poor and the most vulnerable among us,” he said.
The Archbishop also highlighted the need for a more enabling environment for businesses to thrive, citing the rising cost of energy and inadequate social amenities as significant barriers. He urged leaders to make thoughtful decisions that alleviate citizens’ burdens, rather than exacerbating them through poorly timed economic policies.
The Archbishop called for a societal shift from dependency to dignity, advocating for empowerment through skill development and employment opportunities.
“By so doing, we will not merely be giving fish to the hungry, but we will help to teach them how to build fish ponds that will sustain them and their families without resorting to begging,” he explained.
This approach, he argued, will significantly reduce poverty and restore a sense of purpose among citizens.
Good governance, transparency, and accountability were central to the Archbishop’s appeal. He urged Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable and called on leaders to prioritize the welfare and well-being of their citizens.
“The New Year provides another opportunity for all Nigerians, the leaders and the led, to reflect on the journey so far and project on how to make the New Year more purpose-driven,” he remarked, emphasizing the shared responsibility in building a better nation.
Despite the hardships facing the nation, Archbishop Martins reminded Nigerians to remain grateful and optimistic. He expressed gratitude for the unity of the country and encouraged citizens to embrace the New Year with love, tolerance, and hope.
“As we enter into the New Year 2025, we must approach it with optimism, open-mindedness, love, and tolerance,” he advised. “We must not lose faith in God’s ability to transform our situations.”
