Sokoto (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 16 June 1964
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kaduna
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 68,068 (26,291 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 1 Aliyu Jodi Road, P.O. Box 2556, Sokoto State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0805)57.90.000; (0806)09.34.550

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Sokoto
- Latin Name: Sokotoensis
- Erected: 29 June 1953
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edward Thaddeus Lawton, O.P. † (15 Jan 1954 Appointed - 19 Dec 1966 Died)
Michael James Edward Dempsey, O.P. † (13 Jul 1967 Appointed - 3 Dec 1984 Resigned)
Kevin Joseph Aje † (3 Dec 1984 Succeeded - 10 Jun 2011 Retired)
Matthew Hassan Kukah (10 Jun 2011 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Sokoto
29 June 1953	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaduna (Sokoto and Katsina)	Prefecture Apostolic of Sokoto (erected)
Diocese of Sokoto
16 June 1964	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Sokoto	Diocese of Sokoto
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)
16 October 2023	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sokoto	Diocese of Katsina (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 Sokoto

1970 1,648 6,929,562 .0% 11 11 149 15 9 ap1971

1980 13,303 7,393,000 .2% 4 13 17 782 1 16 13 6 ap1981

1990 19,548 9,509,000 .2% 11 6 17 1,149 1 7 6 9 ap1991

1999 43,721 12,001,782 .4% 21 3 24 1,821 4 28 9 ap2000

2000 39,623 12,008,482 .3% 21 3 24 1,650 4 27 10 ap2001

2001 42,964 12,100,342 .4% 24 5 29 1,481 6 28 10 ap2002

2002 45,428 12,104,441 .4% 25 5 30 1,514 6 46 11 ap2003

2003 49,623 12,204,542 .4% 24 4 28 1,772 5 36 11 ap2004

2004 60,554 12,251,910 .5% 30 5 35 1,730 6 47 14 ap2005

2010 44,366 14,133,000 .3% 32 7 39 1,137 7 28 17 ap2011

2014 30,883 15,614,070 .2% 29 5 34 908 5 78 24 ap2015

2017 39,767 15,622,700 .3% 26 5 31 1,282 10 80 27 ap2018

2020 43,245 17,468,675 .2% 39 5 44 982 5 32 27 ap2021

2022 46,000 18,614,000 .2% 46 3 49 938 3 25 28 ap2023

2023 21,000 15,930,561 .1% 39 3 42 500 65 17 bul:16Oct2023

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 Sokoto
1970	1,648	6,929,562	.0%		11	11	149		15	9		ap1971
1980	13,303	7,393,000	.2%	4	13	17	782	1	16	13	6	ap1981
1990	19,548	9,509,000	.2%	11	6	17	1,149	1	7	6	9	ap1991
1999	43,721	12,001,782	.4%	21	3	24	1,821		4	28	9	ap2000
2000	39,623	12,008,482	.3%	21	3	24	1,650		4	27	10	ap2001
2001	42,964	12,100,342	.4%	24	5	29	1,481		6	28	10	ap2002
2002	45,428	12,104,441	.4%	25	5	30	1,514		6	46	11	ap2003
2003	49,623	12,204,542	.4%	24	4	28	1,772		5	36	11	ap2004
2004	60,554	12,251,910	.5%	30	5	35	1,730		6	47	14	ap2005
2010	44,366	14,133,000	.3%	32	7	39	1,137		7	28	17	ap2011
2014	30,883	15,614,070	.2%	29	5	34	908		5	78	24	ap2015
2017	39,767	15,622,700	.3%	26	5	31	1,282		10	80	27	ap2018
2020	43,245	17,468,675	.2%	39	5	44	982		5	32	27	ap2021
2022	46,000	18,614,000	.2%	46	3	49	938		3	25	28	ap2023
2023	21,000	15,930,561	.1%	39	3	42	500			65	17	bul:16Oct2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Matthew Hassan Kukah (Bishop: 10 Jun 2011 - )
Gerald Mamman Musa (Priest: 1 Jun 1996 to 16 Oct 2023)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Kevin Joseph Aje † (Coadjutor Bishop: 15 Oct 1982; Bishop: 3 Dec 1984 to 10 Jun 2011)
Michael James Edward Dempsey, O.P. † (Bishop: 13 Jul 1967 to 3 Dec 1984)
Edward Thaddeus Lawton, O.P. † (Prefect: 15 Jan 1954; Bishop: 16 Jun 1964 to 19 Dec 1966)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Sokoto
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 773, and Page 774
Diocese of Sokoto
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 358, and Page 359

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Diocese of Sokoto

Dioecesis Sokotoensis