Religion - Bin It

Pentecostal churches are wildly popular in Nigeria — and increasingly rich, as they run thriving businesses empires on the side.  There are at least 500 in Nigeria, some of them with branches worldwide. Nigerians turn to faith as their trust in the government wanes. Critics say they exploit people's faith.

The prosperity gospel pastor David Oyedepo has a net worth is estimated to be $150 million (€128 million).

An estimated 80 million people are Christian and about half of them are members of a Pentecostal church. Each Pentecostal churches promises economic salvation, promises solutions. "That comes with a price tag. Francis Falako explains. "People's faith is being exploited," the professor of religious studies at the University of Lagos adds. "Most of these pastors are not there to serve, they are there to enrich themselves, if you question some of their practices, they quote the Bible to support themselves and say Jesus was not poor," Falako says.

There are plenty of ways to make money. How about olive oil for $5 per bottle? In a country with a minimum wage of $50 per month, that is a small fortune. The vendor explains to me that this is very special oil because it is blessed. "And once you believe and use the oil, it cures sickness, it cures anything, people have been cured from HIV by using just this oil," he says.

Churches are not required to pay taxes. 

The Living Faith Church plans to expand and build a new church in Nigeria, with a rotating altar and capacity to seat 100,000 people.

Denouncing God can be a dangerous thing in Nigeria. Atheism, considered blasphemy by many, is a largely underground movement. As an atheist in Nigeria, you will be ostracised. Most keep their beliefs secret. However, in recent months, Nigerian atheists have registered three pro-secular organisations: Atheist Society of Nigeria, the Northern Nigerian Humanist Association and the Nigerian Secular Society.