By Fr. Henry Charles Umelechi
Each Catholic Metropolitan province contains an Archdiocese and suffragan diocese(s). An archdiocese is referred to as a metropolitan see or the โheadโ diocese of an ecclesiastical province: the “primus inter pares,” the first among the dioceses in a province. For example, the Archdiocese of Onitsha is the Metropolitan See for the Province of Onitsha, which includes Archdiocese of Onitsha itself and the suffragan dioceses of Abakaliki, Aguleri , Awgu, Awka, Ekwulobia and other three dioceses.
The suffragan dioceses are those dioceses under the leadership of the Archdiocese.
Currently, there are 60 Catholic dioceses in Nigeria which includes one eparchy, in 9 Ecclesiastical provinces with 9 Metropolitan Archdioceses:
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Abuja(26 March 1994)(8)
*Diocese of Gboko ( 29 December 2012)
*Diocese of Idah (17 December 1977)
*Diocese of Katsina-Ala (29 December 2012)
*Diocese of Lafia (5 December 2000)
*Diocese of Lokoja( 5 May 1965)
*Diocese of Makurdi ( 28 June 1960)
*Diocese of Otukpo ( 10 July 1995)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Benin(26 March 1994)(6)
*Auchi Diocese (4 December 2022)
*Bomadi Diocese (21 September 2017)
*Issele-Uku Diocese (5 July 1973)
*Uromi Diocese (14 December 2005)
*Warri Diocese (10 March 1964)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Calabar (26 March 1994)(5)
*Ikot Ekpene Diocese (1 March 1963)
*Ogoja Diocese (1 January 1955)
*Port Harcourt Diocese (16 May 1961)
*Uyo Diocese(4 July 1989)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Ibadan (26 March 1994)(6)
*Ekiti Diocese (11 December 1972)
*Ilorin Diocese (29 May 1969)
*Ondo Diocese (18 April 1950)
*Osogbo Diocese (3 March 1995)
*Oyo Diocese (18 January 1963)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Jos(26 March 1994)(8)
*Bauchi Diocese (31 December 2003)
*Jalingo Diocese (3 February 1995)
*Maiduguri Diocese (7 June 1966)
*Pankshin Diocese (18 March 2014)
*Shendam Diocese (2 June 2007)
*Wukari Diocese (14 December 2022)
*Yola Diocese( 2 July 1962)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Kaduna(16 July 1959)(8)
*Kafanchan Diocese (10 July 1995)
*Kano Diocese (22nd June 1999)
*Kontagora Diocese (2nd April 2020)
*Minna Diocese (17 September 1973)
*Sokoto Diocese (16 June 1964)
*Zaria Diocese (5 December 2000)
*Katsina Diocese (16 October 2023)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Lagos(18 April 1950)(3)
*Abeokuta Diocese (24 October 1997)
*Ijebu-Ode Diocese (29 May 1969)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha(18 April 1950)(9)
*Abakaliki Diocese(1 March1973)
*Aguleri Diocese (12 February 2023)
*Awgu Diocese(8 July 2005)
*Awka Diocese (10 November 1977)
*Ekwulobia Diocese (5 March 2020)
*Enugu Diocese (12 November 1962)
*Nnewi Diocese (9 November 2001)
*Nsukka Diocese (19 November 1990)
โMetropolitan Archdiocese of Owerri(26 March 1994)(6)
*Aba Diocese (2 April 1990)
*Ahiara Diocese (18 November 1987)
*Okigwe Diocese (24th January 1981)
*Orlu Diocese (29 November 1980)
*Umuahia Diocese (23 June 1958)
โOur Lady of the Annunciation at Ibadan (Annunciazione) (Maronite) (Eparchy)(28 February 2018).
โSummary
The Archdioceses of Lagos and Onitsha are the two oldest dioceses, elevated to archdioceses on the same date, 18 April 1950. The elevation of Kaduna to an Archdiocese was on 16 July 1959 and it’s second to Lagos and Onitsha Archdioceses. The Archdioceses of Abuja, Benin, Calabar, Ibadan,Jos, and Owerri were elevated to Archdioceses on the same date, 26 March 1994, and they are third in elevation after Lagos, Onitsha and Kaduna. The Catholic diocese of Katsina is the youngest diocese, created on 16 October, 2023.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Onitsha has the highest number of dioceses, that is, nine dioceses, which is seconded why the provinces of Abuja, Jos and Kaduna, with eight(8) dioceses each. The Province of Lagos has the lowest number of dioceses, that is, three(3) dioceses. The Province of Benin has six(6) dioceses, Calabar has five(5), Ibadan has six(6), while Owerri has six(6), thereby making it the total of 59 dioceses and one Eparchy in Nigeria.
An Eparchy in the Catholic parlance is a local church with an equivalence of a diocese, with it’s own bishop and geographical boundary.
Fr. Henry Charles Umelechi , reporting.
Truth Series.
