Abuja: The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has called on the Federal Government to urgently convene an inter-religious dialogue to address the tension arising from U.S. President Donald Trump’s allegation of Christian genocide.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, NCSCN issued this recommendation following an emergency meeting in Abuja. The meeting resulted in a communique, signed by key members including Mazi Oscar Kalu, Alhaji Gambo Haruna, Mutaka Ghali, and Peter Ihekiedime, among others. This communique was shared with newsmen, highlighting the need for immediate action in light of Trump’s recent comments on Truth Social, claiming Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria with thousands of Christians allegedly being killed.
The communique emphasized the urgency for the Federal Government to act, citing the growing international tension and media reactions over the purported genocide. It criticized the government’s delay in appointing ambassadors, which has contributed to the backlash.
The NCSCN suggested creating an independent database to track incidences of terrorist and bandit attacks, categorized by gender, age, and religion. This database would help counter speculations and misinformation about the alleged Christian genocide.
Further recommendations included the immediate convening of an Inter-Religious Dialogue through the Office of the National Security Adviser. The communique urged President Bola Tinubu to expedite the appointment of ambassadors and international lobbyists to protect Nigeria’s interests.
The NCSCN also stressed the importance of developing a national framework for strategic lobbying and engaging skilled diplomats to address the accusations diplomatically, emphasizing the need for verifiable facts and figures in response to international assertions.
The communique concluded by highlighting the detrimental effects of Nigeria’s prolonged lack of ambassadors, urging the government to address these diplomatic vacancies promptly.