As Unemployment continues to surge across Nigeria, a striking trend has emerged: former industrial hubs, which once provided jobs for thousands, are increasingly being repurposed as places of worship. This shift highlights the deepening crisis in the country’s Manufacturing sector, where rising costs, an unfavourable business climate, and unreliable Infrastructure have led to the closure of many factories. What were once symbols of industrial progress are now standing idle, as churches occupy the very spaces that could have helped address the country’s unemployment woes.
In the past, companies like Hardel & Enic were emblematic of Nigeria’s industrial ambition. Situated in Lagos, these factories contributed significantly to the nation’s growth, providing jobs and fostering economic development. At its peak, Hardel & Enic employed over 4,000 people, playing a major role in Construction and infrastructure. However, due to a combination of power shortages, high production costs, and escalating taxes, such companies were unable to sustain operations, forcing them to shut down or relocate abroad, leaving behind empty spaces that now serve a different purpose
Industrial decline opens doors for religious centres.
Similarly, Zoom Mobile, once a competitor in Nigeria’s growing telecom sector, faced the same crippling challenges that many other businesses encountered. Initially thriving in the deregulated telecom market, Zoom Mobile’s operations were undermined by stiff competition, financial losses, and harsh economic conditions. After cutting its workforce and scaling back operations, the company eventually ceased its operations altogether. The space it once occupied in Lagos was later transformed into a church, The Covenant Place, a prominent religious gathering spot that now attracts thousands of worshippers every week.
The repurposing of factories into churches is not unique to Lagos. In Onitsha, Anambra State, for instance, the site of Nigerian Mineral Water Industries Limited, once a key player in the soft drink market, has been converted into several churches, including the Dunamis International Gospel Centre. This transformation reflects a broader trend across Nigeria, where former industrial hubs are increasingly being replaced by places of worship. The decline of the manufacturing sector, plagued by rising operational costs, unstable power supply, and unfavourable business policies, have left many factories abandoned or struggling. As these businesses falter, churches have stepped in, filling the vacuum left behind.
Churches cannot fill the unemployment gaps in Nigeria.
This shift highlights the challenges faced by Nigeria’s industrial landscape and the rise of religious institutions as an unexpected economic force. As businesses fail and factories remain idle, churches not only provide a spiritual refuge but also a practical solution to empty spaces. The trend raises concerns about the future of Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity and job creation. The growing dominance of religious institutions in these former industrial spaces further emphasizes the widening gap between Economic Growth and social needs.
Although churches have become vital institutions in Nigerian society, contributing to the community through social programmes and job creation within the religious sector, they cannot replace the lost jobs from shuttered factories. The rise of religious centres in place of industrial hubs further underscores the fragility of the nation’s Economy and the urgent need for policy reforms that prioritise manufacturing and industrial growth. Experts warn that without addressing the root causes of business failures, such as high costs and poor infrastructure, the country risks seeing more factories turned into prayer halls rather than places of production.
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Ultimately, while the growth of religious institutions may offer spiritual support to those affected by the economic downturn, it cannot be seen as a substitute for a thriving industrial sector. Nigeria’s economic health depends on revitalising its manufacturing base and creating a conducive environment for businesses to flourish. The conversion of factories into churches might provide temporary relief for landlords, but it highlights a worrying trend that signals the need for urgent economic reform. Without it, the country risks losing its industrial identity altogether, leaving future generations to pray for the jobs that have already vanished.