The President of EYN – Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, Rev. Daniel Y. C. Mbaya, PhD, has warned that economic hardship continues to deepen across Nigeria, despite declines in the prices of some staple food items.
Speaking during his New Year message at the Chapel of Kulp Theological Seminary (KTS) on 1 January 2026, Rev. Mbaya said that while prices of crops such as corn, rice and beans had fallen, the cost of fertiliser, agricultural inputs, transport fares and other essential goods had continued to rise, placing further pressure on households.
He said the situation had increased the burden on farmers and low-income families and described it as a contradiction that reflected broader economic challenges in the country.
According to him, the situation reflects a broken system that punishes productivity and rewards exploitation.
Insecurity and church attacks
Turning to security, the President reviewed the events of 2025, explaining that the Church experienced a worsening security situation, recording more attacks on churches than in 2024. He said at least six local churches were displaced in DCC Chibok-Balgi, while many others were displaced in DCC Wagga and others.
According to him, members of the EYN Church were abducted and killed, including victims of bomb blasts, with several incidents either underreported or not reported at all. He described the forced closure of schools in some areas due to terrorist threats as a troubling development that exposed children and communities to greater risk.
EYN Vision Making Progress Despite Adversity
Despite the challenges, Rev. Mbaya announced major progress has been made towards realizing the Church’s long-term vision of building:
“A united living Church, deeply rooted in the Word of God; spiritually, numerically, and materially prosperous.”
He highlighted Key Developments to include: the 236.9 hectares of land secured in Gombi for the proposed Brethren University, steady progress by the Brethren Radio and Television Establishment Committee, with the reports of the Field Strength Test and Filed Survey and Site Plan already established, strategic fraternal visits to the United States, Germany, and Switzerland, which amplified the plight of EYN and persecuted communities on the global stage
He commended EYN members who have embraced these visions through prayer, commitment, and financial support.
Message to the Presidency
On governance, Rev. Mbaya commended Nigeria’s security agencies and armed forces for renewed efforts against insurgency, while calling for the exposure of collaborators within the system.
The EYN President acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for strengthening international collaboration particularly with the United States to combat terrorism.
Rev. Mbaya noted that 2025 Christmas celebration was the first in many years passed without reported attacks on churches in Northern East Nigeria, particularly in place like Borno and Adamawa, despite threats by terrorists, calling it a rare and commendable achievement.
“Any Nigerian unhappy with this progress is an enemy of Nigeria and should be treated as such,” he declared.
However, he urged President Tinubu to urgently call Sheikh Ahmed Mamud Gumi to order, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could incite violence against innocent Christians.
The EYN president also thanked the President of the United States Donald Trump for supporting Nigeria’s efforts to confront insecurity, saying international cooperation had contributed to recent security gains in the Country.
The EYN President urged Nigerians to remain prayerful, law-abiding and resilient in the face of ongoing challenges, and encouraged citizens who have not done so to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN).
He also Commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for granting clemency to Sunday Jackson, describing the earlier conviction of the farmer as a clear miscarriage of justice and warned beneficiaries of PAWECA empowerment against wasteful spending, urging them to invest in sustainable livelihoods such as livestock rearing.
