Makurdi (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 28 June 1960
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Abuja
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 7,304 (2,821 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://cdmakurdi.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 42 Kashim Ibrahim Road, 970001 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0816)50.09.137; (0803)65.50.802

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Benue
- Erected: 9 July 1934
- Country: Nigeria
Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo
- Latin Name: Oturkpoensis
- Name Changed: 18 April 1950
- Country: Nigeria
Diocese of Oturkpo
- Latin Name: Oturkpoensis
- Elevated: 2 April 1959
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kaduna
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

Giuseppe Kirsten, C.S.Sp. † (26 Feb 1937 Appointed - 1947 Died)
James Hagan, C.S.Sp. † (20 Mar 1948 Appointed - 29 Mar 1966 Resigned)
Donal Joseph Murray, C.S.Sp. † (11 Jan 1968 Appointed - 2 Jun 1989 Resigned)
Athanasius Atule Usuh † (2 Jun 1989 Succeeded - 28 Mar 2015 Retired)
Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F. (28 Mar 2015 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Benue
9 July 1934	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Benue (erected) Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo
18 April 1950	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Benue	Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo
14 July 1950	Territory Lost	Diocese of Buéa Prefecture Apostolic of Jos Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo	Prefecture Apostolic of Yola (erected) (Adamctwa and parts of Bomu)
21 February 1955	Territory Lost	Diocese of Benin City Diocese of Kaduna Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo	Prefecture Apostolic of Kabba (erected) (Civil Province of Kabba)
12 December 1955	Territory Added	Diocese of Jos (Northern part of Benne)	Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo
Diocese of Oturkpo
2 April 1959	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo	Diocese of Oturkpo
16 July 1959	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Oturkpo (from Onitsha)
Diocese of Makurdi
28 June 1960	Name Changed	Diocese of Oturkpo	Diocese of Makurdi
26 March 1994	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Makurdi (from Kaduna)
10 July 1995	Territory Lost	Diocese of Makurdi (Otukpo, Ado, Apa, Ogbadibo, Oju, and Okpokwu)	Diocese of Otukpo (erected)
5 December 2000	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Jos (Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, and Wamba) Diocese of Makurdi (Nasarawa along with Karu, Keffi, Lafia, Obi, Awe, Doma, Nasarawa, Toto, Keana, and Kokana)	Diocese of Lafia (erected)
29 December 2012	Territory Lost	Diocese of Makurdi (Gboko, Tarka, Buruku, Ushongo, Kwande, Vandeikya, and Konshisha)	Diocese of Gboko (erected)
29 December 2012	Territory Lost	Diocese of Makurdi (Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukam)	Diocese of Katsina-Ala (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Makurdi

1970 47,431 2,641,960 1.8% 42 42 84 564 46 24 ap1971

1980 224,000 3,200,000 7.0% 28 47 75 2,986 52 57 4 ap1981

1990 627,511 4,703,000 13.3% 78 42 120 5,229 47 90 4 ap1991

1999 1,160,140 3,400,313 34.1% 122 14 136 8,530 59 96 64 ap2000

2000 1,072,855 2,510,000 42.7% 139 6 145 7,399 78 53 ap2001

2001 1,077,235 2,780,110 38.7% 110 8 118 9,129 56 79 56 ap2002

2002 1,105,280 2,780,110 39.8% 112 11 123 8,986 58 65 44 ap2003

2003 1,177,966 2,905,341 40.5% 117 17 134 8,790 64 69 47 ap2004

2004 1,380,790 3,005,568 45.9% 116 6 122 11,317 54 66 58 ap2005

2012 457,070 1,014,000 45.1% 84 84 5,441 30 33 27 bul:29Dec2012

2013 457,070 1,014,000 45.1% 38 31 69 6,624 142 51 27 ap2014

2016 501,000 1,236,000 40.5% 50 42 92 5,445 171 71 46 ap2017

2019 550,000 1,352,600 40.7% 54 56 110 5,000 132 42 70 ap2020

2021 582,360 1,432,180 40.7% 57 65 122 4,773 131 40 89 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Makurdi
1970	47,431	2,641,960	1.8%	42	42	84	564	46	24		ap1971
1980	224,000	3,200,000	7.0%	28	47	75	2,986	52	57	4	ap1981
1990	627,511	4,703,000	13.3%	78	42	120	5,229	47	90	4	ap1991
1999	1,160,140	3,400,313	34.1%	122	14	136	8,530	59	96	64	ap2000
2000	1,072,855	2,510,000	42.7%	139	6	145	7,399		78	53	ap2001
2001	1,077,235	2,780,110	38.7%	110	8	118	9,129	56	79	56	ap2002
2002	1,105,280	2,780,110	39.8%	112	11	123	8,986	58	65	44	ap2003
2003	1,177,966	2,905,341	40.5%	117	17	134	8,790	64	69	47	ap2004
2004	1,380,790	3,005,568	45.9%	116	6	122	11,317	54	66	58	ap2005
2012	457,070	1,014,000	45.1%	84		84	5,441	30	33	27	bul:29Dec2012
2013	457,070	1,014,000	45.1%	38	31	69	6,624	142	51	27	ap2014
2016	501,000	1,236,000	40.5%	50	42	92	5,445	171	71	46	ap2017
2019	550,000	1,352,600	40.7%	54	56	110	5,000	132	42	70	ap2020
2021	582,360	1,432,180	40.7%	57	65	122	4,773	131	40	89	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Peter Iorzuul Adoboh † (Priest: 30 Jun 1984 to 29 Dec 2012)
James Hagan, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 20 Mar 1948; Bishop: 8 Mar 1960 to 29 Mar 1966)
Giuseppe Kirsten, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 26 Feb 1937 to 1947)
Donal Joseph Murray, C.S.Sp. † (Bishop: 11 Jan 1968 to 2 Jun 1989)
Athanasius Atule Usuh † (Priest: 19 Dec 1971; Coadjutor Bishop: 18 Nov 1987; Bishop: 2 Jun 1989 to 28 Mar 2015)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 529
Diocese of Oturkpo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 624, and Page 625
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 72, and Page 73
Diocese of Makurdi
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 913
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 86, Page 557, and Page 558

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Diocese of Makurdi

Dioecesis Makurdensis