Oscar Amaechina, president of Afri-mission and Evangelical Network, a missionary group operating in northern Nigeria, has highlighted the multifaceted drivers of insecurity in the country, including poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, weak governance, corruption, ethnicity, religious extremism, marginalisation, and climate change. In an interview, he detailed his organisation's efforts to support displaced families and stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to address the crisis.
Rental Housing for Displaced Families
Amaechina explained that the initiative to rent apartments for 72 internally displaced families in the Federal Capital Territory and environs was inspired by the Holy Spirit. He said, “This initiative was born out of an inspiration from the Holy Spirit to go the extra mile in alleviating the challenges faced by displaced families who have lost their homes and livelihoods.” The project was made possible through support from World Outreach Ministry International and Ignited Church.
Impact of Insecurity on Missionary Work
The president acknowledged that insecurity has severely hampered missionary activities in northern Nigeria. “To be candid, it has not been easy working in Northern Nigeria amid the prevailing security challenges. There are areas we can no longer safely access, which has limited some of our outreach efforts,” he said. As a result, the network is focusing more on its Diaspora Mission Project to reach unreached people groups.
Missionary Activities and Humanitarian Work
Amaechina described his evolution from a missionary to a humanitarian worker. He noted that upon reaching certain communities, his team realised that humanitarian intervention is necessary for people to acknowledge God’s love. The organisation runs multiple programmes, including Feed the Hungry, Clothe the Naked, Clean Water Programme, Education Programme, Orphan and Vulnerable Children Programme, Prison Ministry, Hospital Mission, Skill Acquisition Programme, Widows Project, Beggars Mandate, Micro-loan Discipleship Scheme, and Rental Housing Support Programme.
He cited highs such as seeing people come to Christ, widows regaining hope, children enrolling in school, and displaced families receiving shelter. However, lows include moments when urgent needs exceed available resources, forcing project postponements or cancellations. Challenges include insecurity, limited funding, increasing humanitarian needs, inflation, and economic pressures.
Victims of Insecurity: Both Christians and Muslims
Addressing the perception that Christians are the primary victims of terrorist attacks, Amaechina emphasised that both Christians and Muslims suffer. “Our concern is not the religion of the victims but their humanity and their need for support,” he stated. He noted that when his organisation provided rental housing for displaced persons in Abuja, both Christians and Muslims benefited.
Drivers of Insecurity and Solutions
Amaechina identified multiple drivers of insecurity: poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, weak governance, corruption, ethnicity, religious extremism, marginalisation, and climate change. He called for a multifaceted approach combining improved security, job creation, quality education, good governance, climate adaptation, peacebuilding, and community development. He also stressed the role of faith-based organisations in promoting love, peace, tolerance, and reconciliation.
He poignantly remarked, “There is hunger in Nigeria, and it has created serious problems. Many Nigerians go to bed on an empty stomach... Unfortunately, those who are well-fed are also not sleeping at night because many hungry and poor people pick up weapons and move from house to house at night in search of something to eat. Neither the poor nor the rich are sleeping peacefully in Nigeria today.”
Motivation and Funding
His prime motivation is to demonstrate Christ’s love through word and action, seeing lives transformed spiritually, socially, and economically. Funding comes from absolute dependency on God’s provisions, with donations from individuals, churches, and friends of the ministry. He believes “God’s work done in God’s way will definitely attract God’s sponsorship.”
Vision for Nigeria
Amaechina dreams of a Nigeria free from terrorism, banditry, and insurgency, where peace, justice, and righteousness prevail, and leaders serve with integrity. The pathway includes promoting godly values, electoral participation, empowering vulnerable communities, and fostering interfaith dialogue.
Memorable Experience and Current Projects
He recounted an encounter with an unreached people group in a remote community, where the village head asked to meet “Jesus” after receiving aid. That led to the community embracing Christianity.
Current projects include constructing a Skills Acquisition Centre for vulnerable women and youth, with training in tailoring, catering, baking, cosmetology, ICT, bead-making, bag-making, and shoe-making. The organisation also aims to return 200 displaced out-of-school children to school by September. The Feed the Hungry Programme continues, and the second phase of the 2026 Rental Housing Support Programme is being implemented. Additionally, they are pursuing the Five Million Souls Mandate from the late Pastor Benjamin Faircloth.
