President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strongly defended Nigeria’s record on religious freedom, rejecting the characterisation of the nation as “religiously intolerant.”
In a statement, President Tinubu affirmed that “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”
The President highlighted his administration’s commitment to engaging with faith communities since taking office in 2023.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” he stated.
President Tinubu emphasised that the label of religious intolerance does not accurately reflect the national reality or the government’s sustained efforts.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” the President asserted.
He further declared that “Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
Concluding his statement, President Tinubu stressed the constitutional protections afforded to all citizens and reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to international cooperation on the issue: “Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.”
