Daniel Atori and Mairo Allawa, Minna
A committee set up by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state Chapter has on Sunday disclosed that Christians in the state are 45.7 percent of the state’s population.
The committee said out of the over Seven million, four hundred and seventy eight thousand, four hundred and seventeen (7,478,417) population projected, Christians are three million, four hundred and seventeen thousand, six hundred and thirty six (3,417,636) representing 45.7 per cent.
While citing insecurity and displacement as factors that have altered the distribution of Christian communities, Chairman of the Christian Statistics Committee set up by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State chapter, Evang. Marcus Salka said the essence of the data was to correct what it described as inaccurate projections of the Christian population, particularly those circulating on social media.
Speaking during a press conference on Sunday in Minna, Salka who is also Chairman of Nigeria Christian Youths in Politics, Niger state Chapter alongside his Secretary Barde Jesse said after gathering all data, Christians are 45.7 per cent, compared with approximately 46.1 per cent and 8.2 per cent for the other two religious categories in the State.
It should be recalled that the 2006 census population of 3,950,249 for Niger State, comprised of 2,032,725 males and 1,917,524 females.
Salka noted that, Nigeria’s last official population census however did not include religious affiliation, making the 45.7 per cent figure an estimate based on available demographic projections, surveys and research carried out since 2025.
Accordingly, he said “the estimation was derived from the 2025 projected population of 7,478,417 for Niger State by the Niger state Bureau of Statistics, thereby putting the Christian population at approximately 3,417,636.
“The size of the Christian population should not be judged by the level of participation in active politics.
“That some Christians do not participate in active politics does not mean we do not have the number. Christians make up a significant population in Niger State.
“We cannot, and we will never keep quiet and then allow those who do not know our population to project or assume figures for us for selfish interests”.
Salka also linked changes in the distribution of Christian communities to prolonged insecurity in parts of the state.
The group chairman specifically mentioned Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Wushishi and Magama, alleging that attacks had led to deaths and displacement of residents from communities with significant Christian populations.
He alleged that some Christians had been forced to relocate while others were killed, describing the development as a factor that had affected the demographic distribution of Christians.
“Following the incessant insecurity in Christian-dominated local government areas, especially Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Wushishi, Magama and others, majority of our people were killed, others relocated,” he said.
He further alleged that the displacement was part of a deliberate attempt to reduce the Christian population in affected communities.
The group said, despite the displacement, Christians remained present across both rural and urban communities in the state.
He said the population had increased substantially, citing the 2025 state projection of 7,478,417, comprising 3,790,197 males and 3,688,220 females.
The chairman stated that Christians were spread across the state’s 25 local government areas and represented by Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, Evangelical and African Instituted churches, among others.
The Christian blocs identified by the group included the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Christian Council of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Organisation of African Instituted Churches, TEKAN and ECWA-related fellowships.
He then vowed that the Committee would continue to challenge what it considers inaccurate representations of the Christian population in Niger State.
