Grace Thompson
As of 2023, there are 60 Catholic dioceses in Nigeria, including one eparchy, 9 ecclesiastical provinces, and 9 metropolitan archdioceses. The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). In 2020, it was estimated that 12.39% of the country's population, or one-quarter of Nigerian Christians, were Catholic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Dioceses | 60 |
| Number of Ecclesiastical Provinces | 9 |
| Number of Metropolitan Archdioceses | 9 |
| Percentage of Christians in Nigeria in 2020 | 46.18% |
| Percentage of Catholics in Nigeria in 2020 | 12.39% |
| Number of baptised Catholics in 2005 | 19 million |
| Percentage of Catholic population in 2010 | 12.6% |
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What You'll Learn
There are 60 Catholic dioceses in Nigeria
The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the curia in Rome. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) also plays a significant role in the country's Catholic community.
Each ecclesiastical province consists of a Metropolitan Archdiocese and suffragan dioceses. An archdiocese is often referred to as a metropolitan see or the "head" diocese of an ecclesiastical province.
The 9 ecclesiastical provinces in Nigeria are:
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Abuja
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Benin
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calabar
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ibadan
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kaduna
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lagos
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Owerri
These dioceses and their structures provide a framework for the Catholic Church's administration, sacramental life, institutions, and events in Nigeria.
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9 Metropolitan Archdioceses
The Catholic Church in Nigeria is composed of 9 Latin rite ecclesiastical provinces, each under a Metropolitan Archbishop. There are a total of 44 suffragan dioceses. Here is a list of the 9 Metropolitan Archdioceses:
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Abuja
The Archdiocese of Abuja was elevated to an archdiocese on 26 March 1994. It has eight suffragan dioceses:
- Diocese of Gboko
- Diocese of Idah
- Diocese of Katsina-Ala
- Diocese of Lafia
- Diocese of Lokoja
- Diocese of Makurdi
- Diocese of Otukpo
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Benin
The Archdiocese of Benin was elevated to an archdiocese on 26 March 1994. It has six suffragan dioceses:
- Auchi Diocese
- Bomadi Diocese
- Issele-Uku Diocese
- Uromi Diocese
- Warri Diocese
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calabar
The Archdiocese of Calabar was elevated to an archdiocese on 26 March 1994. It has five suffragan dioceses:
- Ikot Ekpene Diocese
- Ogoja Diocese
- Port Harcourt Diocese
- Uyo Diocese
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ibadan
The Archdiocese of Ibadan was elevated to an archdiocese on 26 March 1994. It has six suffragan dioceses:
- Ekiti Diocese
- Ilorin Diocese
- Ondo Diocese
- ...
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lagos
The Archdiocese of Lagos was elevated to an archdiocese on 18 April 1950, making it one of the two oldest dioceses in Nigeria.
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha
The Archdiocese of Onitsha is the Metropolitan See for the Province of Onitsha, which includes the Archdiocese of Onitsha itself and the suffragan dioceses of Abakaliki, Aguleri, Awgu, Awka, and Ekwulobia, among others. It was elevated to an archdiocese on 18 April 1950, making it one of the two oldest dioceses in Nigeria.
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kaduna
The Archdiocese of Kaduna was elevated to an archdiocese on 16 July 1959, making it the second oldest after Lagos and Onitsha.
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos
The Archdiocese of Jos was elevated to an archdiocese on 26 March 1994.
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Owerri
The Archdiocese of Owerri was elevated to an archdiocese on 26 March 1994.
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The Catholic Church in Nigeria is Latin rite
The Catholic Church in Nigeria is mainly composed of a Latin hierarchy, joined in a national Episcopal Conference of Nigeria, and a single Eastern Catholic (transnational) see. It consists of 9 Latin rite ecclesiastical provinces, each under a Metropolitan Archbishop, with a total of 44 suffragan dioceses. Currently, there are 60 Catholic dioceses in Nigeria, which includes one eparchy, in 9 Ecclesiastical provinces with 9 Metropolitan Archdioceses.
The Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, are a large family of liturgical rites and uses of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church sui iuris of the Catholic Church. Its language is now known as Ecclesiastical Latin. The most used rite is the Roman Rite. The Latin rites were for many centuries no less numerous than the modern Eastern Catholic liturgical rites.
The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) was followed by a general revision of the rites of all the Roman Rite sacraments, including the Eucharist. Each new typical edition of a liturgical book supersedes the previous one. The 1970 Roman Missal superseded the 1962 edition, and was itself superseded by the 1975 edition. The 2002 edition in turn superseded the 1975 edition, in both Latin and official translations into other languages.
The Rite of the Holy Sepulchre, commonly called the Carmelite Rite, is the liturgical rite that was used by the Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre, Hospitallers, Templars, Carmelites, and other orders founded within the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Premonstratensian Rite or Norbertine Rite is the liturgical rite, somewhat distinct from the Roman Rite, specific to the Premonstratensian Order of the Roman Catholic Church. The Cistercian Rite is the liturgical rite, distinct from the Roman Rite, specific to the Cistercian Order of the Catholic Church. The Dominican Rite is the unique liturgical rite of the Dominican Order in the Catholic Church.
The Ambrosian Rite is celebrated most often in the Archdiocese of Milan, Italy, and in parts of some neighbouring dioceses in Italy and Switzerland. The language used is now usually Italian, rather than Latin. The Mozarabic Rite, prevalent throughout Spain in Visigothic times, is now celebrated only in limited locations, principally the cathedral of Toledo. In Africa Proconsulare, located in present-day Tunisia, the African Rite was used before the 7th-century Arab conquest.
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The Pope is the spiritual leader
In total, there are 60 Catholic dioceses in Nigeria. These are spread across 9 ecclesiastical provinces, each containing a Metropolitan Archdiocese and suffragan diocese(s). The Metropolitan Archdioceses include those of Abuja, Benin, Calabar, and Ibadan.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) is the Nigerian episcopal conference, and its president as of 2022 is Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese. The Pope's spiritual leadership extends to the CBCN, which is an important body for the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
The Pope's role as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church in Nigeria is significant, as it provides a unified spiritual direction for the country's Catholic population. In 2020, it was estimated that one-quarter of Christians in Nigeria were Catholic, amounting to 12.39% of the country's population. The Pope's spiritual leadership helps guide and shape the beliefs and practices of this significant religious minority in the country.
Furthermore, the Pope's leadership extends beyond the spiritual realm, as there is also an Apostolic Nunciature (papal diplomatic representation at the embassy level) in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. This highlights the Pope's role in fostering diplomatic relations and representing the Catholic Church in the country's political sphere.
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The Eparchy is the local church
The Catholic Church in Nigeria is a significant part of the country's religious landscape, with around one-quarter of Nigerian Christians identifying as Catholic. This equates to approximately 12-13% of the country's total population. The Catholic Church in Nigeria is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the curia in Rome, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) plays a crucial role in the country.
The CBCN is headed by a president, currently Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese. The CBCN provides a platform for faith-formation, sharing, and interaction among Catholics in Nigeria. It also oversees the structures, administration, sacramental life, institutions, and events within the Church in the country.
Within the Catholic Church's structure in Nigeria, there are 60 Catholic dioceses, including one eparchy. These dioceses are organised into nine ecclesiastical provinces, each containing a Metropolitan Archdiocese led by a Metropolitan Archbishop. An eparchy, in Catholic terms, is equivalent to a local church or diocese, with its own bishop and defined geographical boundaries.
The Eparchy of the Maronite Catholic Church in Ibadan, Oyo State, is an example of such a local church. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ibadan, which was established on 26 March 1994, and includes other dioceses such as the Ekiti Diocese, Ilorin Diocese, and Ondo Diocese. These dioceses work together within their ecclesiastical province to serve the Catholic community in their respective regions.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 60 Catholic dioceses in Nigeria, including one eparchy.
There are 9 ecclesiastical provinces in Nigeria.
In 2010, the Catholic population of Nigeria was approximately 12.6% of the total population, or around 19 million people. In 2020, the Catholic population was estimated to be 12.39% of the country's population.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
