FG Restates Pledge to Protect Religious Freedom
Chidimma Uchegbu – Abuja
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to safeguarding freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria, describing it as a constitutional right and a key foundation for national unity and peaceful coexistence.
This assurance was given on Wednesday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, during a courtesy visit by a coalition of organisations, including the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), The Kukah Centre and the Nasrul-Lahi-il-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT). The Minister was represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Suleiman Haruna, the visiting delegation presented reports and a policy brief from the first and second phases of a joint initiative aimed at strengthening mechanisms for monitoring freedom of religion and belief (FoRB) across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, an NHRC representative explained that the project was designed to promote peaceful coexistence and provide reliable data on violations of religious freedom. She said the initiative, which has been running for two years, focused on tracking FoRB-related incidents and supporting evidence-based advocacy.
She noted that the first phase of the project concentrated on building trust among religious leaders, civil society groups and community influencers through interfaith dialogue and surveys conducted in six states across the northern and southern regions. The second phase, she added, focused on Kano and Ebonyi States, where inclusive monitoring networks were set up to document FoRB violations in real time.
To widen public awareness, the delegation disclosed that the project also featured radio campaigns in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, English and Pidgin, broadcast across all six geopolitical zones to promote tolerance and mutual respect. The policy brief submitted to the Ministry, the representative said, was intended to guide government policies and strengthen inclusive governance.
Responding on behalf of the Minister, the Permanent Secretary described the organisations as vital partners in peacebuilding, human rights protection and interfaith harmony. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to freedom of religion and belief, stressing that it remains a constitutionally guaranteed right in Nigeria.
“Freedom of religion and belief is essential to national unity, stability and democratic development,” he said, adding that the Ministry’s role in strategic communication and national orientation aligns with efforts to promote tolerance, counter hate speech and prevent misinformation.
He assured the delegation of the Ministry’s readiness to deepen collaboration beyond advocacy visits, including public enlightenment programmes and content development focused on religious tolerance. He also подчеркed that the Federal Government regards civil society and faith-based organisations as key partners in nation-building.
Also present at the meeting were Mr. Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Information and National Orientation; Sunday Baba, fnipr, Special Adviser on Administration; and other senior officials of the Ministry.