Nigeria faith leaders sign interfaith peace accord in Abuja

More than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders have signed an interfaith peace accord in Abuja to promote religious harmony and combat insecurity in Nigeria. The agreement, signed during an international conference titled ‘Diversity and Social Peace: A Partnership for a Promising Future,’ aims to curb divisive rhetoric and hate speech ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The conference was organized by the Muslim World League in collaboration with Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) Nigeria. Key figures, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, called for mutual respect and religious tolerance. The Sultan specifically urged both faiths to cease mutual insults, stating that religious differences should not serve as barriers to peaceful coexistence.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, emphasized the need for national and international cooperation to address multifaceted security threats. Nigerian government officials, including the Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, noted that national stability depends on citizens working together across religious and ethnic divides to ensure the country’s prosperity and security.