₦airaland Forum

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has approved the creation of 15 new dioceses, bringing the total number of dioceses nationwide to 176.

The decision was reached at the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church, held in Ekiti State between September 15 and 19, 2025.

According to a statement signed by the Church’s Communication Officer, Korede Akintunde, the approval followed a series of inspections, verifications, and validation exercises after the moratorium on creating new dioceses was lifted in September 2024.

The process involved inspection teams led by Archbishops Joseph Akinfenwa (Old Province 1), David Onuoha (Old Province 2), and Daniel Yisa (Old Province 3). Their reports were reviewed by a validation team inaugurated by the Primate, The Most Rev’d Dr. Timothy Yahaya, in March 2025.

Following these exercises, five dioceses were approved as full-fledged dioceses, while ten were approved as missionary dioceses.

Full-Fledged Dioceses:

1. Ekiti South (out of Ekiti)
2. Kalabari (out of Niger Delta)
3. Lagos South West (out of Lagos West)
4. Omoku (out of Ahoada)
5. Ozoro (out of Oleh)


Missionary Dioceses:

1. Eket (out of Uyo)
2. Idanre (out of Akure)
3. Ikom (out of Calabar)
4. Keffi (out of Kubwa and Lafia)
5. Nasarawa (out of Lafia)
6. Ogoja (out of Calabar)
7. Oyo South (out of Oyo)
8. Oyun (out of Kwara)
9. Takum (out of Jalingo)
10. Zuru (out of Kebbi)

At the Episcopal Synod held on September 18, 2025, at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesha, Ado-Ekiti, new bishops were elected to oversee the newly created dioceses and to fill vacant positions.

Bishops Elected (Full-Fledged Dioceses):

1. Diocese of Irele/Ese-Odo – Venerable Samuel Ogunmiluyi
2. Diocese of Ekiti South – Venerable Francis Bankole
3. Diocese of Kalabari – Venerable Boma Briggs
4. Diocese of Lagos South West – Venerable Dr. Adewole Ajayi
5. Diocese of Omoku – Venerable Richard N. Okpara
6. Diocese of Ozoro – Venerable Dr. Benjamin Idume


Bishops Elected (Missionary Dioceses):

1. Idanre – Venerable Bode Otenaike
2. Ikom – Venerable David Michson
3. Keffi – Venerable Dr. Paul Dajur
4. Nasarawa – Venerable Dr. Luka B. Allu
5. Ogoja – Venerable Ifeanyi Akunna
6. Oyo South – Venerable Dr. Ebenezer Familoni
7. Oyun – Venerable Solomon Adewumi
8. Takum – Rev’d Canon Rika G. Ibrahim
9. Zuru – Venerable Dr. Ayuba Kanta

The bishop for the Missionary Diocese of Eket has not yet been elected due to the sudden demise of the Bishop of Uyo Diocese, from which the missionary diocese is being carved out.

The Primate, The Most Rev. Dr. Henry Ndukuba, urged members of the Church to pray for and support the newly elected bishops and their families as they prepare for their assignments.

He announced that the consecration of the new bishops will take place on November 9, 2025, in Abuja, while dates for the inaugurations and enthronements will be communicated later.