Abuja: The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, has highlighted Nigeria’s economic shortcomings compared to nations with similar population sizes, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced development partnerships. Bagudu conveyed this message during the 2026 Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Nigeria Impact Showcase held in Abuja to mark 26 years of the organization’s work in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Bagudu pointed out that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and government revenue trail significantly behind those of countries with comparable populations, which hampers investment in critical sectors. He stressed that despite the Federal Government’s bold economic reforms, collaboration with humanitarian and development organizations is crucial to ensure that vulnerable populations are not neglected.
“As of 2023, and even now, Nigeria is not where we want it to be. Compared to countries in the same population bracket, such as Brazil, we are far behind, with a mu
ch smaller GDP and government revenue,” Bagudu remarked. He further noted that education, health, and empowerment programs face constraints due to limited resources.
Bagudu acknowledged that the economic reforms spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu’s administration are necessary for sustainable economic growth, though they have imposed additional burdens on certain population segments. He attributed further inflationary pressures to global events, including the Russia-Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts, and international tariff disputes, which have driven up energy, fertilizer, and transportation costs.
“We are still not where we want to be in reaching those who need support the most. That is why we need organizations like CRS and other development partners to complement government efforts,” Bagudu stated, emphasizing a collaborative approach for peace and inclusive development.
CRS Nigeria’s Country Representative, Akim Kikonda, emphasized that the organization’s impact should be measured by lasting trans
formation in beneficiaries’ lives rather than numbers alone. Kikonda highlighted CRS’s collaboration with governments, faith-based organizations, and civil society to address challenges in health, agriculture, food security, humanitarian response, and peacebuilding across Nigeria.
In a goodwill message, Mr. Peter Kodji of Action Against Hunger commended CRS’s contributions to maternal and child health, nutrition, agriculture, emergency response, peacebuilding, and livelihoods. However, he warned that food insecurity, displacement, climate change, unemployment, and social tensions continue to threaten development gains, advocating for deeper collaboration and investment.
Uko Ekott, the Country Representative of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), described CRS as “a beacon of hope, resilience, and compassion,” praising its commitment to community-led development and local ownership. Meanwhile, Most Rev. Anselm Umoren, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, emphasized that CR
S promotes human dignity irrespective of religious affiliation.
Figures presented at the showcase revealed that CRS has positively impacted the lives of over 70 million Nigerians through various programs. The organization reported that 605,196 individuals participated in Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC), generating over 6.49 million dollars in community savings, while 55,941 people benefited from skills development and economic strengthening initiatives.
CRS also provided 192,405 people with access to safe drinking water, offered humanitarian assistance to 1.46 million people, disbursed over 41.3 million dollars through cash and voucher programming, and delivered food assistance to 286,138 individuals. The organization partners with governments, faith-based groups, civil society organizations, and communities to provide development and relief support to Nigerians.