Jun 6, 2008 / 18:58 pm
The global food crisis could close the Catholic seminary in the central Nigerian city of Makurdi by June 20 as “astronomical prices” force food rationing there.
According to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the major seminary has at least 520 seminarians from 15 dioceses around the country. The seminary’s food problems are compounded by electricity supply problems caused by the rising price of diesel, which has increased by one third in just one week.
Seminarians’ home dioceses are also taxed by rising food and gas prices.
Since the food crisis began in April, the seminary has taken out credit to function. Seminary rector Monsignor Kenneth Enang told ACN that he may be forced to close the seminary before the students begin to suffer from malnourishment and the debts increase further.