By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: The Orthodox Anglican Communion has decried the rising wave of poverty and insecurity in the country, demanding urgent remedial actions from President Bola Tinubu and leaders at the subnational level.

The call was part of the communique issued at the end of the second session of the first Synod of the Diocese on the Confluence held at Cathedral Church of The Enlightened Christian in Ajaokuta, Kogi state.

“The increasing rate of poverty in Nigeria which has turned Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world is unacceptable. The Synod therefore calls on both the Federal and State Governments including the local governments to put schemes in place to empower Nigerians.

“The Synod is concerned with the rising level of insecurity in the country, especially herdsmen/farmers clashes, Boko haram insurgency, kidnapping and recently, the armed bandit’s activities across the Nation.

“The Synod calls on the Federal Government to reinforce the strategy of the Federal security and also, devolve powers to the state for establishment of supportive security outfits at the local level to compliment the efforts of the Federal security agencies to stem this tide of insecurity”, the Orthodox Communion said in athe communique jointly signed by the President of the Synod, Most Rev. Moses Suberu and the Clerical Synod Secretary, Rev. Canon Abraham Ornyor.

The Synod which has as its theme, “Still more work to be done” taken from John 9:4, also frowned at “the unending and systematic persecution of Christians in the northern part of the nation and calls on the Federal Government to halt this evil”.

It however commended the Federal Government for the revitalization of rail line projects, and appealed that the Itakpe rail line be connected to Abuja and other states in order to boost the economy.

“The Synod pleads with our leaders in all spheres of governance to ensure the total take-off of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and National Iron Ore Mining Project Company Itakpe.

“The Synod admonishes all government functionaries, security agencies and other government institutions to get to work and do more to save this nation from collapse, corruption, insecurity bedeviling the country.

“The Synod observes the high level of academic decadence and poor state of Nigeria’s educational institutions. The Synod pleads with the Federal and State Governments to reposition our higher institutions of learning as well as secondary schools”, the communique added.