Methodist bishops on Monday called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to tackle hunger in the country.
This was part of the communique released after the 39th Bishops Council Conference held in Lagos.
The church said an end to the hunger in the country would have a positive bearing on other social variables and halt the socially-induced crisis that the society had been fraught with lately.
The theme of the conference was ‘Prepare for the Second Coming of Christ.’
The Prelate of the Church, His Eminence, Samuel Uche, said people should speak out against social upheavals that had been a challenge to societal peace.
The cleric urged the government to end hunger in the land, as such social undoing had posed danger to the nation’s peace.
He said, “As a church, we remain committed to the welfare of the people and will continue to advocate for the good of the people for the authorities to foster people-oriented policies to forestall strife in the country.
“We shall continue to summon sense of purpose and drive, capable of moving us in the direction of progress that the society desires.
“The Council of Bishops urges everyone to live a holy life, as it is essential in winning the war against social vices, perversion and corruption pervading the society.
“Our government has a duty to secure the lives of the people by widening its economic drive to the agricultural sector that has the capacity to employ many youths and discourage them from being involved in crime.”
He added that the remodelling of the nation’s economy through mechanised farming would keep youths away from crime.
Uche described the unending university lecturers’ strike as unproductive, urging the authorities to make peace with the striking lecturers, to enable youths to go back to school.
“There is a need for the undergraduates to continue with their educational pursuit without a gap in the scheme.
“Such wide lull in the system, as seen in the over three months industrial action, could be counter-productive on the students and the society,” he said.