Nigeria

Portuguese explorers introduced Catholicism to Nigeria in the 15th Century, but serious evangelization did not begin until the 1840s.  Nigeria became a British crown colony in 1861 and gained its independence in 1960.

Slightly more than half of Nigeria’s 203 million people are Muslim.  Catholics make up 11 percent and other Christians 36 percent.  There are nine ecclesiastical provinces:  Abuja, Benin City, Calabar, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Lagos, Onitsha, and Owerri.

In addition, the Maronite Diocese of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Ibadan serves Maronite-rite Catholics in Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, and Togo.  It was established as an apostolic exarchate (a missionary diocese) in 2014 and became a diocese in 2018.  It reports directly to the Maronite Patriarch.

Province of Lagos

The province consists of the States of Lagos and Ogun in southwestern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey was established in 1860 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lagos in 1950.  The Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lagos was built between 1934 and 1939 in a French Gothic style.  See hcclng.org.

The first and last picture are from the Cathedral's website, the second picture is from Pinterest, and the third is from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Ijebu-Ode was established in 1969.
• The Diocese of Abeokuta was established in 1997.

Province of Onitsha

The province consists of the States of Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu in Southern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Lower Niger was created in 1889 and became an apostolic vicariate in 1920.  It became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha in 1950.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity in Onitsha was built between 1930 and 1935, but was badly damaged during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970).  The Cathedral was restored and later enlarged.  Pope Benedict XVI designated the Cathedral as a minor basilica in 2007.  The Cathedral Basilica contains the tomb of Blessed Michael Cyprian Iwene Tansi, a Nigerian priest.

From the Diocesan website.

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Enugu was created in 1962.
• The Diocese of Abakaliki was created in 1973.
• The Diocese of Awka was created in 1977.
• The Diocese of Nsukka was created in 1990.
• The Diocese of Nnewi was created in 2001.
• The Diocese of Awgu was created in 2005.
• The Diocese of Ekwulobia was created in 2020.
• The Diocese of Aguleri was created in 2023.

Province of Kaduna

The province consists of the States of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokota, and Zamfara in northwestern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Eastern Nigeria was created in 1911 and became the Diocese of Kaduna in 1953.  It was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kaduna in 1959.  St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Kaduna was built in 1934 to replace a smaller church.  See archkd.org/about/st-josephs-cathedral.

From jubilaeummisericordiae.va

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Sokoto began as an apostolic prefecture in 1953 and became a diocese in 1964.
• The Diocese of Minna was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1964 and became a diocese in 1973.
• The Diocese of Kafanchan was created in 1995.
• The Diocese of Kano started as a Mission sui juris in 1991, became an apostolic vicariate in 1995 and a diocese in 1999.
• The Diocese of Zaria created in 2000.
• The Diocese of Kontagora was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1995, became an apostolic vicariate in 2002, and a diocese in 2020.
• The Diocese of Katsina was created in 2023.

Province of Abuja

The province consists of the Federal Capital Territory, and the States of Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa in Central Nigeria.  The Mission sui juris of Abuja was established in 1981 and became the Diocese of Abuja in 1989.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Abuja was established in 1994 with the creation of the new Province.  The current Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in Abuja was dedicated in 2012, but construction is underway on the Cathedral of St. John Paul II.  See abujacatholicarchdiocese.org.

From jubilaeummisericordiae.va

The Province has seven suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Makurdi began as an apostolic prefecture in 1934 and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Lokoja started as an apostolic prefecture in 1955 became a diocese in 1964.
• The Diocese of Idah began as an apostolic prefecture in 1968 and was promoted to a diocese in 1977.
• The Diocese of Otukpo was created in 1995.
• The Diocese of Lafia was created in 2000.
• The Diocese of Gboko was created in 2012.
• The Diocese of Katsina-Ala was created in 2012.

Province of Benin City

The province consists of the States of Delta and Edo in Southwestern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Upper Niger was created in 1884 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Nigeria in 1918.  The Diocese of Benin City was created in 1950 and was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1994.  Holy Cross Cathedral is in Benin City.  See catholicarchdioceseofbenin.com.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Warri was established in 1964.
• The Diocese of Issele-Uku was established in 1973.
• The Diocese of Auchi was established in 2002.
• The Diocese of Uromi was established in 2005.
• The Diocese of Bomadi started as a Mission sui juris in 1991, became an apostolic vicariate in 1996 and a diocese in 2017.

Province of Calabar

The province consists of the States of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers in Southern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Calabar was established in 1934 and became an apostolic vicariate in 1947, and a diocese in 1950.  It became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calabar in 1994.  Sacred Heart Cathedral is in Calabar.

From Bantuphotos.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Ogoja was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1938 and became a diocese in 1955.
• The Diocese of Port Harcourt was created in 1961.
• The Diocese of Ikot Ekpene was created in 1963.
• The Diocese of Uyo was created in 1989.

Province of Ibadan

The province consists of the States of Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo in Southwestern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Ibadan was created in 1952 and became a diocese in 1958.  It was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1994.  The Cathedral in Ibadan is dedicated to St. Mary.  See ibadanarchdiocese.org.

From Facebook.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Ondo began as an apostolic vicariate in 1943 and became a diocese in 1950.
• The Diocese of Oyo was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1949 and became a diocese in 1963.
• The Diocese of Ilorin started as an apostolic prefecture in 1960 and became a diocese in 1969.
• The Diocese of Ekiti was created in 1972.
• The Diocese of Osogbo was created in 1995.

Province of Jos

The province consists of the States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe in northeastern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Jos was established in 1934 and became the Diocese of Jos in 1953.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos was established in 1994.  The Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima is in Jos.

From Revolvy.

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Yola was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1950 and became a diocese in 1962. 
• The Diocese of Maiduguri was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1953 and became a diocese in 1966. 
• The Diocese of Jalingo was established in 1995.
• The Diocese of Bauchi was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1996 and became a diocese in 2003.
• The Diocese of Shendam was established in 2007.
• The Diocese of Pankshin was established in 2014.
• The Diocese of Wukari was established in 2022.

Province of Owerri

The province consists of the States of Abia and Imo in Southern Nigeria.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Owerri was established in 1948 and became a diocese in 1950.  It was promoted to a metropolitan archdiocese in 1994.  Assumption Cathedral in Owerri was built between 1954 and 1980 in a modern Renaissance style.  The dome rises 120 feet above the floor and is 101 feet in diameter.  The Cathedral can hold 3,000 people.  See owarch.org.

From the Archdiocesan website.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Umuahia was established in 1958.
• The Diocese of Orlu was established in 1980.
• The Diocese of Okigwe was established in 1981.
• The Diocese of Ahiara was established in 1987.
• The Diocese of Aba was established in 1990.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates and apostolic prefectures.  Both are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  There is also a jurisdiction called a mission sui juris.  A mission sui juris may be part of a province and is often administered by a bishop of another diocese.

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.