President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting religious harmony, interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, declaring that Nigeria’s security challenges can only be effectively addressed through unity among people of different faiths.
The President made the remarks on Saturday while receiving the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, at his residence in Abuja.
Tinubu said his administration would continue to support initiatives that foster peace, tolerance and mutual understanding among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
“My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths.
“Our bishops and religious leaders have been doing a great deal. Please tell them to continue the good work they are doing. Let them continue to preach peace and tolerance. We cannot have an excess of that,” the President said.
He stressed that sustained interfaith dialogue remains the most effective approach to tackling insecurity and strengthening national unity.
The President also recalled his longstanding relationship with the Catholic Church, particularly during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, where he supported the Church’s contributions to education and healthcare.
According to him, this conviction informed his decision to prioritise the return of mission schools to their original owners after they had been taken over during previous military administrations.
Tinubu expressed appreciation to Pope Leo XIV, describing it as an honour to have led Nigeria’s delegation to the Pope’s inauguration.
“I appreciate the Pope. It was an honour for me to lead the Nigerian delegation to his inauguration as Pope Leo XIV. It was a moment of history.
“I see his efforts all over the world to promote world peace. We need his spiritual engagement, as millions around the world look up to him. I look forward to receiving him in Nigeria,” he said.
The President commended the Catholic Church for its contributions to education, healthcare and humanitarian services across Nigeria.
“I understand the roles that the Catholic Church has been playing in expanding the frontiers of education, health and humanitarianism in Nigeria. It means a lot to us in Nigeria, and the country is benefiting from it,” he added.
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Tinubu also emphasised his administration’s commitment to protecting freedom of worship, noting that religious tolerance remains a core value of his government.
“We are also doing a lot to guarantee freedom of worship. As you may be aware, my wife is a pastor at an evangelical church.
This downplays the religious connotation that the religious controversy in our country might have taken,” he stated.
On security, the President said the military had recorded significant progress in combating insecurity, adding that his administration was investing more resources in surveillance and security operations, particularly in previously ungoverned areas.
He also disclosed that the government was investing heavily in youth development to prevent young people from being recruited by terrorist groups and other criminal elements.
Earlier, Archbishop Gallagher said he was in Nigeria to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Holy See.
He described Nigeria as strategically important to the Catholic Church because of its vibrant Catholic population and growing influence across Africa.
The archbishop conveyed Pope Leo XIV’s appreciation to President Tinubu for attending his inauguration and praised the progress recorded by Veritas University, established by the Catholic Church in Abuja.
Gallagher further commended the Tinubu administration’s efforts to promote peace and improve security through military operations while appreciating the Federal Government for facilitating visas for Catholic bishops and responding positively to the Church’s requests.
He informed the President that he looked forward to receiving Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Holy See in the coming weeks and assured him that his visit would be the first of several high-level engagements between the Vatican and Nigeria.
Archbishop Gallagher was accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael F. Crotty; Rev. Monsignor Suman Paul Anthony, Official of the Secretariat of State, Section for Relations with States and International Organisations; and Rev. Monsignor Patarne Koyassambia-Kozondo, First Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Nigeria.