A Vanguard report says Nigeria’s church industry generates $9 billion annually, branding it the nation’s largest business empire built on faith, wealth, and silence.
A special report by Vanguard has described the Nigerian church as the country’s most profitable business empire, generating an estimated $9 billion (₦14 trillion+) annually, surpassing the GDP of over 30 African nations. The report notes that while hospitals lack oxygen and schools crumble, churches boast marble auditoriums, fleets of private jets, and sprawling estates, funded largely through tithes and offerings.
“Faith is free, but salvation comes with a price tag,” the report observed, stressing that pulpits now function as boardrooms and pastors as CEOs. It argued that hope has been monetized and packaged as a business plan, with millions of Nigerians offering unwavering patronage every Sunday.
Critics highlighted hypocrisy, pointing out that while churches condemn corruption, many thrive on proceeds from looted public funds laundered as donations. The analysis concludes that Nigeria mistakes wealth for holiness and prosperity for progress, warning that as long as the pulpit remains the country’s most profitable venture, poverty will continue to recycle.