The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has appealed to religious leaders to avoid portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a conflict between religions, cautioning that such rhetoric could weaken national cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Idris urged Christian leaders to leverage their influence to encourage truth, peaceful coexistence, responsible citizenship and tolerance, emphasising that no Nigerian should face attack or discrimination on the basis of religion.
The minister spoke in a keynote address presented at the grand finale of the 2026 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and the International Communion of Charismatic Archbishops, Bishops and Apostles, held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation published the address on its official X account on Thursday.
Addressing the issues of religious freedom and national security, Idris reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerians’ constitutional right to freely practise their religion.
“Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the Federal Government remains committed to protecting every citizen’s right to worship and practise their faith freely. No Nigerian should be attacked or discriminated against because of religion. Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths should be able to live and worship in peace.
The minister said the administration of President Bola Tinubu had improved intelligence gathering, strengthened collaboration among security agencies and intensified military operations, while deepening security partnerships with other countries.
He continued, “Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government has strengthened intelligence, inter-agency cooperation and military operations, with significant gains recorded against terrorist and criminal networks. Our international partnerships have also grown stronger. Cooperation with the United States and other friendly nations covers intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, training, defence and border security.
“The message is clear: Nigeria is not facing these threats alone. We will continue to work with our international partners while strengthening our own capacity to protect Nigerians. But security ultimately requires the cooperation and vigilance of all citizens.”
Idris noted that religious leaders have a significant responsibility in influencing public opinion, given their reach and impact on millions of Nigerians.
“The Church occupies a special place in the life of our nation. Millions of Nigerians look to their pastors, bishops and other religious leaders not only for spiritual guidance, but also for direction on issues that affect their families, communities and the country.
“That influence comes with responsibility. At a time when misinformation, hate speech, religious intolerance and political tension can spread within minutes, the pulpit and other platforms of religious communication should remain places where truth, peace and responsible citizenship are promoted,” Idris was quoted as adding.
