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  • Reps committed to tackling religious, racial discrimination in Nigeria -Speaker Abbas

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that the legislature is committed to combating all forms of religious and racial discrimination to ensure peaceful coexistence of Nigerians.

    The Speaker gave the assurance while declaring open the 2025 Interfaith Legislative Roundtable Engagement organized by the House of Representatives in Abuja on Monday.

    Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Speaker Tajudeen said that the Roundtable is a continuation of a global momentum that began with the Second Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue, held in Rome in June 2025, where over 100 countries including Nigeria pledged to collaborate across faiths and parliaments to defend democratic values, protect vulnerable populations, and counter divisive rhetoric.

    According to him, the dialogue stems from the communique issued at the end of the event which emphasized that peace-building must be proactive and anchored on ethics, accountability, and solidarity.

    He said: “This Roundtable draws from those recommendations and seeks to localize them within the Nigerian context. It is instructive to mention also that the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations has also reinforced these efforts, warning that the rising tide of online hate speech and the normalization of dehumanizing rhetoric present existential threats to democratic societies.

    “The House of Representatives is committed to combating all forms of religious and racial discrimination with equal urgency. In the light of this, the House, through this engagement, aims to identify legislative gaps, propose frameworks, and create tools that can meaningfully curb these threats while promoting civic education and peaceful coexistence.

    “As outlined in our Legislative Agenda, we are focused on upholding the rule of law, fostering peace-building and dialogue, and deepening inclusion, especially for youth and marginalized communities. This engagement aligns squarely with those goals. From hate speech regulation in digital spaces to faith-based education for tolerance, we aim to evolve policies that not only protect freedom of belief but also inspire a generation of responsible citizenship.”

    Beyond the core significance of the Roundtable, Speaker Tajudeen also said it is essential that the stakeholders begin to explore how faith-based education can serve as a frontline tool against extremism and divisive ideologies.

    He added that misinformation, indoctrination and poor civic understanding escalate religious conflicts.

    Proferring solutions however, Speaker Tajudeen emphasized the need to enhance the digital literacy of faith influencer and clerics, stressing that the House remained committed to defending the Constitution.

    “Many of the vulnerabilities that breed religious conflict are rooted in misinformation, indoctrination, and poor civic understanding. By supporting reforms that integrate constitutional literacy, critical thinking, and peace studies into religious curricula across madrasas, seminaries, and faith-based schools, we can build a generation that is both spiritually grounded and civically informed.

    “Similarly, there is a need to enhance digital literacy among faith influencers and clerics, who now command significant followings online. Empowering them with responsible digital communication skills, content moderation ethics, and conflict-sensitive engagement strategies will help de-escalate online tensions and prevent the manipulation of religious sentiment on social media.

    “No citizen should be discriminated against politically, economically or socially on the basis of his faith or persuasion. As a responsible House, we remain firmly committed to defending the Constitution and ensuring, through appropriate legislative actions and oversight, that this constitutional provision is enforced at all levels of governance”, the Speaker said.

  • Hijab: We’ll respect everybody’s religious rights – Makinde

    Hijab: We’ll respect everybody’s religious rights – Makinde

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has on Tuesday in Ibadan assured people of the state that his government would not trample on their religious rights.

    Makinde said this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Islamic Affairs, Mr AbdulRasheed AbdAzeez, to mark the 2022 World Hijab Day.

    The governor congratulated the Muslim Ummah in the state, especially the female adherents and pledged that his administration would not oppose activities and practices that would promote godliness and modesty.

    “Hijab is a covering which not only beautifies the wearer but also helps in advancing decency in the society.

    “Muslim students who wish to wear hijab in public schools in Oyo State have not been denied their right to do so,” he said.

    “I have instructed those in positions of authority in the state’s public service and across all our public schools not to intimidate or harass anyone because of their religious beliefs or practices.

    “Our government is God-fearing and we will continue to preach religious tolerance, equality and justice, which will further engender peaceful coexistence, love and togetherness.

    “As the theme of this year’s celebration suggests, hijab is the pride of every female Muslim and it remains sacrosanct,” he said.

    He appealed to various religious heads and leaders to always seek engagement with the state government on any issue in order to avoid religious crisis.

    “Our doors are open for advice, suggestion and consultation on ways of moving our dear state forward”, he said.

  • Walking together: Religious and Community Leaders Escalating or De-escalating tensions, Stephen Ojapah

    Walking together: Religious and Community Leaders Escalating or De-escalating tensions, Stephen Ojapah

    Stephen Ojapah MSP

    Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). The Bible is filled with inspiring passages about friendship. Jesus refers to us as friends (John 15:12-15). He no longer calls us servants but friends, Jesus says, because a servant does not know his master’s business. “Instead,” he continues, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18: 24). When Job lost all his wealth, his friends stood by him when everyone deserted him: My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend (Job 16: 20- 21).

    Amongst so many other factors of building a family or a community, friendship stands out as the most effective. Friendship that cuts across religious and ethnic divide is what we need as a people. Over the years, we have seen how religious and political leaders have tried to show this great example to the world. On the 4th of February 2019, Pope Francis signed a historic document on human fraternity alongside the grand Imam of Al-Alzhar, Sheikh Ahmed el Al-Tayeb. Pope Francis and the Grand Imam were of the opinion that friends don’t fight. If they develop friendship at the time of peace, they may not pick up arms against each other if war ever breaks out. What a noble wish and prayer!

    This wish and prayer is what the John Paul II center for Interreligious Dialogue (Vatican City, Rome) is seeking to fulfill on the 8th of September 2021 in collaboration with the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Diocese of Sokoto. The two organizations are holding a one day peace conference titled: Walking together: Religious and Community Leaders Escalating or De-escalating Tensions. This is an inter-faith initiative for peace in a community modeled after Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed. This initiative will gather close to a hundred participants, beginning from the traditional ruler of Malumfashi who is the Galadiman Katsina Hakimin Malumfashi, Honorable Justice Abdullahi Saddik Mahuta, to the Local Government Chairman of Malumfashi, Honorable Tsoho Mustapha. As you may recall, Malumfashi is the town where two priests were kidnapped on the 21st of May 2021 and one was eventually killed in the person of Fr Bello Alphonsus Yashim. Terrorists have tried hard to set us against each other. But we must rise against religious and ethnic sentiments to walk together, to de-escalate the tensions currently engulfing our land. Last week, we saw viral videos of some Muslim clerics calling for the death of Christians in Plateau state and some northern states if the federal government doesn’t respond to the killings in Jos of some Muslim pilgrims on their way from Bauchi to Oyo.

    Looking at how bad things are at the moment, it is almost impossible to imagine that real friendship once existed between Christians and Muslims; relationship that was devoid of any political or religious coloration. Audu Bako and the Christian Community in Kano can teach us something we are currently missing in our interpersonal relationships. When he was appointed military governor of the old Kano State in May 1967, Bako undertook reforms of the local governments which had been dominated by the traditional emirs. He sought to improve professionalism among local government employees while transferring some responsibilities to the State government. He said the reforms would strengthen the position of the Emirs in their traditional role as religious leaders.

    Bako built most of modern Kano’s landmark structures. The state Government Secretariat and the Audu Bako School of Agriculture in Dambatta were named after him. Bako was a strong supporter of women’s education. Using the teachings of the Shehu as justification, Bako established primary, secondary and teachers training colleges for women and children. He produced the first plan for developing and promoting tourism in the state in 1967. He established the Trade and Industry Division under the Ministry of Finance in 1968.

    In 1969, Bako started construction of the Bagauda Dam to supply the Kadawa Irrigation Project, precursor to the Kano Irrigation Project. Between 1970 and 1973, his administration built the much larger Tiga Dam, aiming to boost agricultural production through irrigation. He has been called the father of Kano’s green revolution. However, although well-intentioned, the dams caused considerable problems in the downstream Hadejia – Nguru wetlands, and turned out to have negative net economic value. His Tomas Danbatta Water Supply Scheme was later abandoned, only to be rehabilitated in 2008 and used to provide drinking water to communities in Dambatta, Makoda and Minjibir local government areas.

    Recently I took an extensive tour of the city of Kano. A city filled with incredible history and fascinating artifacts. At the Catholic Secretariat, I listened to a heartwarming story of the former military governor, Audu Bako. He is still loved and respected by the small Christian Community in Kano. He did a lot of good things for the people of Kano, but the one that stood out for them is his refusal to handover the Missionary Schools to the government as was the policy across the country during the takeover of schools by the government. Because of his friendship with the Irish Missionaries, Audu Bako saw beyond the political decision of handing over the schools to the government. St Louis Girls Secondary School Bompai and St Thomas Boys Secondary School Bompai are living testimonies of this gesture. Friendship most times does for us what official policies cannot achieve. Let’s build friendships across religious and ethnic divides. Long live the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue, Long live the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Diocese of Sokoto.

    Fr Stephen Ojapah is a priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul. He is equally the director for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, a member of IDFP. He is also a KAICIID Fellow. (omeizaojapah85@gmail.com)

     

  • I won’t allow ethnic or religious groups to stoke violence – Buhari

    I won’t allow ethnic or religious groups to stoke violence – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed not to allow any ethnic or religious group to stoke up hatred and violence against other groups.

    In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, issued on his behalf, the president condemned the ethnic violence in a part of the country.

    Yoruba and Hausa residents of Shasa, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, had clashed last week, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

    In his statement, the president vowed to stop the spread of violence.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his government will protect all religious and ethnic groups, whether majority or minority in line with its responsibility under the constitution.”

    “In a reaction to reports of breakout of violence in some parts of the country by some ethnic and sectional groups, President Buhari warned that the government will not allow any ethnic or religious group to stoke up hatred and violence against other groups.

    “The President condemned such violence and gave assurance that his government will act decisively to stop the spread of any such violence.

    “He appealed to religious and traditional leaders as well governors and other elected leaders across the country to join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that communities in their domain are not splintered along ethnic and other primordial lines.”

  • Stoking ethnic, religious prejudices bad for Nigeria’s development – Buhari

    Stoking ethnic, religious prejudices bad for Nigeria’s development – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja warned that stoking ethnic and religious prejudices will not augur well for the development of the country, adding that his administration will continue to create the enabling environment for religious freedom as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

    Buhari said this when the leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, led by its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, paid him a courtesy call.

    President Buhari said: “The Federal Government will continue to promote religious freedom as it is a constitutional responsibility.

    “I must thank the Muslim ummah for promoting inter-religious dialogue in the country.

    “It is self-evident that if the country must work, we must continue to work together in spite of our ethnic, religious and political differences because Nigeria is our collective project.

    “Accordingly, the Federal Government under my leadership does not and will not allow religious prejudice or partisanship to influence any of its decisions and policies.

    “It is my solemn decision to be fair and just to all segments of society.”

    The President assured the delegation that government was doing all within its powers to bring the current state of insecurity to the barest minimum, calling on the local community to assist the security forces as they perform their roles: “The Federal Government has worked tirelessly to combat insecurity and other challenges that are confronting the country.

    “Security is a protracted problem but we are not relenting in our efforts.

    “Not only are we equipping the military, we are also boosting their morale to perform their constitutional duties without undue interference.

    “We are also encouraging locales to enhance their intelligence gathering and timely remitting to the security agencies.

    “I acknowledge that security is the first responsibility of Government but Government cannot do it alone. It requires stakeholders, such as yourselves.

    “Therefore, I urge you to lend your support to the security agencies by providing information that may stem the tide of crimes and insecurity in the society.”

    Buhari also spoke on efforts of his administration towards making life better for the average Nigerian: “We are diversifying the economy and putting appropriate mechanisms in place to reduce poverty and more fiercely combat corruption, regardless of the status of those involved.

    “Programmes such as N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home-Grown School Feeding are just some of the interventions made to empower Nigerians and cater for their needs.

    “The National Social Investment Programme alone has directly benefited four million Nigerians through job training and financial assistance.”

    President Buhari called on the leaders to continue “speaking to our people and to help amplify this message through your very tried and tested networks” and to give full backing to the Alternate School Programme which he launched on Tuesday.

    He said the it was “designed to not only address our high out of school rates, but it will boost our levels of Girl Child education while also equipping our youth with the right tools in making decisions at every turn of their lives when confronted by peddlers of evil and hateful messages… and also address the public health crises that the world is currently facing.”

    The President used the opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to support government efforts on COVID-19: “As Government continues to work towards managing this crisis, it is also critical that you lend your voices in support of those basic but fundamental protocols that can significantly curtail the spread of this disease – washing of our hands, using facemasks and ensuring social distancing as much as possible have been proven to be our first line of defence in the fight against this virus.

    “Furthermore and much more important, when the vaccines which we are working hard to procure for the nation arrive, please, please join in the drive to educate people that these vaccines are meant to save lives and protect everyone.”

    Earlier in his address, Sultan Abubakar commended the President for the successes achieved so far in the North East, calling on the Government to deal decisively with the banditry that is raving the North Western States of Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and some parts of the North Central.

    While expressing confidence that security forces, with better synergy among them, will overcome present challenges, he solicited for the cooperation of all the governors with the Federal Government irrespective of their political leanings, calling on Nigerians to support the new leadership of the armed forces.

    The NSCIA leader also appealed to Nigerians, particularly religious leaders to refrain from making inflammatory comments that tend towards sowing discord in the polity and exacerbating the current level of insecurity in the land.

    He asked that religious leaders making subversive comments should be called to order.

    The Sultan equally identified with the “Hate Speech Campaign” of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    He said Hate Speech is aggravating insecurity in the country, adding: “We have to act.”

  • Inter- Faith group declares spiritual victory over Covid-19, Boko Haram

    Inter- Faith group declares spiritual victory over Covid-19, Boko Haram

    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organization for Peace (NIFROP) has declared spiritual victory over COVID-19 and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

    National Coordinator, Bishop Sunday Garuba, made this declaration on Saturday during the grand finale of the 30-day fast and prayer for divine intervention on coronavirus and the end of Boko Haram/ capture of Abubakar Shekau.

    The rampaging COVID-19 has taken a grip on the entire universe with over five million persons infected and almost 350,000 dead according to John Hopkins University.

    In Nigeria alone, more than 7,000 persons have tested positive while above 200 persons succumbed to the contagion.

    Unfortunately, though, the pandemic comes at a time the Nigerian military is making giant strides in its final clearance operation against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the northeast.

    However, Bishop Garuba believes both would soon come to an end in the country as revealed to him and his group during their 30 days intensive prayer and fast.

    According to the cleric, “ Nigeria is indeed victorious and we shall suffer no affliction for God is our refuge and strength”.

    He added that due to NIFROP’s composition of both Christians and Muslims, their strong faith in one supreme God would see the country overcome coronavirus and Boko Haram.

    While affirming that COVID-19 shall fade away in a matter of time, the clergyman, however, urged Nigerians not to be afraid rather remain steadfast and resolute.

  • Kill the hypocrisy about religious studies in schools

    Azu Ishiekwene

    At a time when you would think there are enough small fires in the country, the religious army has started yet another small fire in schools.

    For most of the time this week the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council had to whip out the hoses to douse the brush fire started by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over rumours that the Federal Ministry of Education had removed Christian Religious Knowledge from secondary school curriculum.

    The President of CAN, Reverend Samson Ayokunle, reportedly told Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that the removal “would lead us to a godless nation, with violence and all forms of ungodliness as the order of the day.”

    Other Christian heavyweights, including Apostle Johnson Suleman, have lent their voices. The moment the debate was framed as yet another step in the journey to the Islamic Republic of Nigeria – since Islamic Religious Knowledge was purportedly spared in the review – the government responded in panic denial.

    It’s not that the religious army led the government by the nose. Not at all. When it comes to using religion as a weapon of blackmail both parties are like two sides of a coin. In spite of all pretensions to the contrary, the government is the worst enabler of the religious problems facing the country today.

    Ayokunle’s generation not only studied CRK or IRK as part of the school curriculum, many of them attended mission schools and could recite the Bible or the Qur’an offhand.

    All Nigerian leaders since independence have either been “practising Christians or devout Muslims.” Yet their collective legacy over the last 57 years comprises a civil war that cost over one million lives, monumental corruption that continues to feed on itself and broken values that have unleashed a host of demons on the society.

    But there’s not much we can do about it. No one can complain once these religious leaders claim that they’re Christians or Muslims and parade themselves on TV from time to time performing hollow rituals.

    Ayokunle might point to the emergence of kidnap crown prince, Chukwudi Onwuamadike, otherwise called “Evans,” as evidence that the “godless” society is finally here. How could Evans build a fortune from crime for so long and live a normal life among normal people?

    But remember that he also paid his dues to the church and who is to say that this descendant from the CAN president’s godly era did not study CRK in school, even as he was said to be so fond of Psalm 23 that he recited it daily while plying his trade of kidnapping for mega ransom?

    Our main problem today is the rotten legacy left behind by the earlier generation of students of CRK and IRK. It’s the deadly legacy of that era that has produced mullahs who treat women as serfs and under-age girl children as sex toys.

    They have bequeathed religion that divides instead of faith that heals divisions; they have bequeathed creeds that exploit the ignorance and fear of the weak and vulnerable, instead of upholding the truth that liberates.
    The religious army has weaponised religion, taking advantage of it to secure their wellbeing and to command obedience that makes government itself afraid and complicit. Who can dare?
    So, what is the new calamity that would befall us if CRK or IRK were struck off the curriculum that didn’t befall us when schools inexplicably stopped teaching history? The point is that the religious army is so used to being pampered by government, it feels it can always stretch its luck a bit, regardless of what we think.
    They get hundreds of millions of naira from states and the Federal Government to go on pilgrimage every year and even have funds converted for them at below official exchange rate when manufacturers have to scrounge for dollars at the black market.
    Top government officials kowtow to them, fawn over them and pay them with state funds for special prayers, while the security services use private jets owned by these religious leaders for secret cash transfers.
    The bad habits from the public lives of the religious army hardly inspire a strong case for the retention of religious studies in school curriculums.
    If, according to the CAN president, the goal of keeping religious studies is to save us from a society where all forms of ungodliness is the order of the day, well, we’re already in a post-godly world. And Ayokunle does not need to look any further than the advice of Acting President Osinbajo – who is himself a pastor – that the church must clean up the corruption amongst its own members.
    And if Ayokunle’s point is to put Nigeria on the map of the world’s most religious countries, he should save himself the trouble since the most religious countries (including Niger, Malawi and Yemen) also rank amongst the poorest and most backward.
    Italy does not teach Christian Religious Knowledge in its schools, it teaches Roman Catholic studies. Saudi Arabia does not teach Islamic Religious Knowledge, it teaches the Wahhabi variety of Islam; and Israel teaches Judaism.
    Is it conceivable that the religious army will agree on which variety of Christianity, Islam and any other faith would be taught in Nigerian schools as a compromise to the country’s multi-religious posture?
    If the school system is letting us down today, it’s largely because the religious army has pressed it to a point where religious mush has replaced any semblance of critical thinking and students are more and more like Pavlov’s dog. They’re losing it.
    If you think it’s farfetched, visit that neighbourhood school – public or private – and share the outcome. Fasting, prayer warfare and a mushy liturgy of ecstatic worship – you might add costumes in places like Osun – are standard parts of the curriculum that Ayokunle wants us to retain.
    Instead of piling on the school to teach religious studies, when we cannot see the fruit in the lives of the preachers, let parents go back home and do their homework by their children. That’s where it starts.
    Our schools have enough problems already including the problem of those who studied CRK and IRK helping their children and wards to cheat during exams. The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are on edge.
    It will take more than bullying schools to retain a religious curriculum for any meaningful change to happen.
    Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview magazine and board member of the Paris-based Global Editor’s Network