Sultan of Sokoto calls for religious freedom in Nigeria

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for the protection of religious freedom in Nigeria. Speaking at the NSCIA 2026 General Assembly in Abuja, the Sultan emphasized that Islam does not support the forced conversion of individuals to the faith.

Abubakar stated, “We do not intend to bombard anyone. We do not intend to make people, by force, to join Islam,” noting that many people choose to embrace the religion voluntarily. He stressed that the principle of religious freedom is recognized in Islam, citing the concept that there is no compulsion in religion.

The Sultan urged Muslims to be proactive in addressing challenges facing their faith and society rather than remaining passive. He also called for unity among the Muslim Ummah and encouraged believers to respect people of other faiths, emphasizing that piety, rather than social status, is the true measure of a person before God.