The power and presence of the Holy Spirit is leading revival in Nigeria. Yet religious and ethnic tensions in Nigeria have led to the country’s division between a predominantly Muslim North and Christian South[1]. Christians have been persecuted by Islamic extremist groups in the middle belt and also in states in the north[2]. Boko Haram members are believed to have abducted hundreds of young women, seriously wounded many women and men, and killed over 15,000 people since 2009[3]. While Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s largest economy due to oil production, 70% of the population still live in poverty[4]. Finally, Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation[5]. Let’s press forward God’s plans over Nigeria…

-Lord Jesus, we pray over the unsaved Nigerians in this nation. We lift up the Islamic believers as well as those who don’t know you. We pray that you God would pour out your spirit on all the Nigerians, that their sons and daughters would prophecy, that their old men would dream dreams, and their young men would see visions.* Let the chains of the enemy fall from their soul, that they might hear the voice of the Lord, and accept the blood of Jesus Christ as their atonement for their sins. 

-Yeshua, we pray that you would shut down the human trafficking business in Nigeria. We pray for salvation to come to the oppressed and poor women and children in Nigeria. We ask for angelic assignments to be given to each trafficking victim and those at risk of being trafficked. May your angels be their shield on all sides and protect them from evil. We pray for healing and restoration over those held captive. We ask for conviction to fall upon the guilty, and we pray your grace would lead them to repentance, salvation, and restoration. 

-We lift up the poor in Nigeria. Father may they rest in your comfort and grace each day. We pray for the daily provisions of food, clean water, shelter, education, and clothing. 

-We pray for the Word of God to be preached, shared, and delivered to all ends of Nigeria, that each individual would be blessed with your words God. 

-Yeshua, we lift up the radical Islamic groups that persecute you Yeshua, and we pray that you Yeshua would encounter them as you did with Saul. Reveal their sins to themselves and lead them to repentance in the name of Jesus Christ! We lift up Boko Haram members and ask for a special anointing of your Holy Spirit to convict each member of their sins and we pray that they would receive your blood for their sins Jesus. Help each member turn from their sinful ways and follow you like brother Paul. Thank you Jesus.    

-We pray for protection over your Christians. Lord Jesus, may your angels keep a close watch over your children, and may you deliver them from the evil one on every occasion. We pray for additional angelic assignments in the middle belt and northern states that persecution would reduce and the name of Jesus Christ be praised by the hands that once persecuted him. Thank you Jesus. 

-We lift up the refugees and internally displaced people in Nigeria and ask that they would be blessed with the gospel message and the opportunity to make you their personal Savior. Bring them fellowship and the community of your saints Jesus. Father, we pray for peace around their household and we pray for your blessing to go with them in their new communities.   

-We pray over all the docks of Nigeria that they would be kept separate and holy to the name of Jesus. We pray that any cocaine and heroin shipments would not dock on holy ground. Holy Spirit, speak to those producing the drugs and those transporting it, that they may seek repentance and that they would dump the drugs overboard through obedience to the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Image Credit: Nupo Deyon Daniel

[1] The Voice of the Martyrs. “Global report on where Christians are persecuted today.” Bartlesville: Persecution.com. 2017.   

[2] The Voice of the Martyrs. “Global report on where Christians are persecuted today.” Bartlesville: Persecution.com. 2017.   

[3] The Voice of the Martyrs. “Global report on where Christians are persecuted today.” Bartlesville: Persecution.com. 2017.   

[4] CIA World Factbook (Date Accessed September 2014).

[5] Patt, Professor Martin (Date Accessed January 2015).

*Scripture quotations are based upon text obtained from New International Version of Joel 2:28, (2011).