Abuja: The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for deeper collaboration between the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and the Federal Government. This is to strengthen peace-building efforts and counter rising insecurity across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tajudeen made the call at the opening of the 2025 triennial meeting of NIREC in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Collaboration of Inter-Religious Council with Government to Promote Peace in Nigeria’. He emphasized the significance of the gathering, especially at a time when violent extremists threaten national unity by exploiting religious sentiments to sow discord.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, highlighted the numerous challenges facing the country, including internal security issues and degraded mutual trust. He assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare and security of citizens as enshrined in the constitution. Akume called on leaders of faith and traditional rulers to unite in promoting peace through collaboration.
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, also stressed the importance of collaboration between faith-based organizations and the government. Okoh noted that Nigeria is at a critical juncture in its history, with insecurity threatening national cohesion. He called for closer collaboration to promote dialogue and nurture social harmony.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, emphasized that Nigeria is a multi-religious country and not a secular state. He clarified that Sharia Law is exclusively for Muslims and assured that Nigeria allows the practice of all religions without undue interference.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, highlighted the importance of collaboration between religious leaders and the government in defeating terrorism and banditry. He called for a collective effort to protect citizens and prayed for guidance and wisdom for leaders, as well as a transformation in the attitudes of criminals.