History of Parish

In 1884, a new mission was opened at Lokoja, with three Frs. living in Lokoja, the Superior then was Fr. Porrier.

In 1885 and 1886 two of the priests died, though the mission of Lokoja could not be abandoned for it was in the heart of the country.

Earlier on, the Anglican Church was established in Lokoja by Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther in 1864, 20 years before the Catholic Church arrived Lokoja.

Due to lack of land, the Anglican Church authority then allowed their place of worship (Church building) to be used by the Catholic Church, after their own worship.

That is the present day Christ Anglican Church, Lokoja.

In 1889, Fr. Charles Zappa arrived Lokoja.

After toiling with little or no success, he went to Asaba, the Headquarters of the Royal Niger Company, while Fr. Zappa was made the Prefect Apostolic of Upper Niger in 1896.

Lokoja battle was still on with the Emir and traditional Muslim leaders in the town.

In 1943, the Prefecture of Benue of the Lower Niger was established, headed by Vicar Apostolic Monsignor Joseph Shanahan, a testimony to this was one of the then vehicular ferry that was named after him which plied Lokoja to Shintaku.

In 1947, more Canadian Holy Ghost priests arrived Benue to help by assuming responsibility for part of Benue Prefecture in Igala land, part of Benue Diocese on the River Niger.

These were Lokoja, Kabba and Okene, under the old Kabba Province.

Kabba Province became the Prefecture of Kabba under Monsignor August Delisle in 1955.

Eventually in 1960, Ecclesiastical Prefectures were created: IIorin, Kabba, Benue and Yola.

Lokoja parish was one of the parishes.

Monsignor William Mahoney at IIorin headed the Prefecture.

In 1971, the first indigenous priest, Fr. Alexious Makozi was appointed Bishop as the first indigenous Bishop of the Northern Nigeria.

Lokoja parish was the seat of the Bishop and has remained the seat of the Bishop ever since to date.

Previous Priests