Minna (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu, Bishop
Luka Sylvester Gopep, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 17 September 1973
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kaduna
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 36,031 (13,916 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Catholic Resource Centre, St. Michael's Catholic Cathedral, Bosso Road, P.O. Box 58, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0806)65.60.181

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Minna
- Latin Name: Minnaensis
- Erected: 9 November 1964
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edmund Joseph Fitzgibbon, S.P.S. † (25 Nov 1964 Appointed - 17 Sep 1973 Resigned)
Christopher Shaman Abba † (17 Sep 1973 Appointed - 5 Jul 1996 Appointed, Bishop of Yola)
Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu (5 Jul 1996 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Minna
9 November 1964	Erected	Archdiocese of Kaduna (Province of Niger)	Prefecture Apostolic of Minna (erected)
Diocese of Minna
17 September 1973	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Minna	Diocese of Minna
6 November 1981	Territory Lost	Diocese of Minna	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Abuja (erected) (Federal Capital Territory)
15 December 1995	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ilorin (New Bussa, Agwara, Shagunu, and Babana) Diocese of Minna (Rijau, Magama, Mariga, Zuru, Sakaba, Danko Wasugu, and part of Wushishi) Diocese of Sokoto (Yauri, Ngaski, and part of Bagudo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Kontagora (erected)

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Minna

1970 5,796 1,339,137 .4% 27 27 214 32 6 8 ap1971

Diocese of Minna

1980 15,818 1,320,000 1.2% 2 18 20 790 20 9 ap1981

1990 41,469 2,074,000 2.0% 7 13 20 2,073 13 14 ap1991

1999 54,120 2,122,000 2.6% 20 9 29 1,866 15 31 25 ap2000

2000 55,070 2,182,000 2.5% 20 11 31 1,776 18 45 25 ap2001

2001 56,020 2,065,658 2.7% 24 8 32 1,750 15 45 25 ap2002

2002 56,571 2,071,209 2.7% 25 8 33 1,714 14 45 25 ap2003

2003 57,030 2,365,659 2.4% 42 7 49 1,163 7 45 27 ap2004

2004 65,858 2,267,107 2.9% 41 9 50 1,317 9 45 30 ap2005

2013 77,589 2,931,000 2.6% 52 13 65 1,193 31 57 48 ap2014

2016 82,695 3,181,530 2.6% 47 17 64 1,292 43 75 55 ap2017

2019 88,000 3,405,340 2.6% 65 26 91 967 58 80 70 ap2020

2021 93,190 3,607,500 2.6% 66 23 89 1,047 26 79 60 ap2022

2023 98,575 3,817,920 2.6% 88 37 125 788 50 77 62 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Minna
1970	5,796	1,339,137	.4%		27	27	214	32	6	8	ap1971
Diocese of Minna
1980	15,818	1,320,000	1.2%	2	18	20	790	20	9		ap1981
1990	41,469	2,074,000	2.0%	7	13	20	2,073	13	14		ap1991
1999	54,120	2,122,000	2.6%	20	9	29	1,866	15	31	25	ap2000
2000	55,070	2,182,000	2.5%	20	11	31	1,776	18	45	25	ap2001
2001	56,020	2,065,658	2.7%	24	8	32	1,750	15	45	25	ap2002
2002	56,571	2,071,209	2.7%	25	8	33	1,714	14	45	25	ap2003
2003	57,030	2,365,659	2.4%	42	7	49	1,163	7	45	27	ap2004
2004	65,858	2,267,107	2.9%	41	9	50	1,317	9	45	30	ap2005
2013	77,589	2,931,000	2.6%	52	13	65	1,193	31	57	48	ap2014
2016	82,695	3,181,530	2.6%	47	17	64	1,292	43	75	55	ap2017
2019	88,000	3,405,340	2.6%	65	26	91	967	58	80	70	ap2020
2021	93,190	3,607,500	2.6%	66	23	89	1,047	26	79	60	ap2022
2023	98,575	3,817,920	2.6%	88	37	125	788	50	77	62	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Luka Sylvester Gopep (Priest: 31 Jan 1998; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Dec 2020)
Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu (Bishop: 5 Jul 1996 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Christopher Shaman Abba † (Bishop: 17 Sep 1973 to 5 Jul 1996)
Edmund Joseph Fitzgibbon, S.P.S. † (Prefect: 25 Nov 1964 to 17 Sep 1973)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Minna
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 627, and Page 628
Diocese of Minna
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 65, Page 583, and Page 584

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Diocese of Minna

Dioecesis Minnaensis