The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has expressed hope that Nigeria will soon be delisted from the ‘Country of Particular Concern’ list by the U.S. government.
Speaking at the second triannual meeting of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) on Wednesday in Abuja, Akume said Nigeria is going through one of its most delicate periods, marked by heightened political rhetoric, internal security strains, and degraded mutual trust that “was almost ebbing into religious conflict” in recent months.
The SGF told the religious leaders that Nigeria was designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the government of the United States of Nigeria, which has triggered a flurry of diplomatic and other critical activities aimed at addressing the narrative arising from a wrong perception of our situation.
Akume revealed that President Bola Tinubu has established a new US–Nigeria Joint Working Group on Security, in which NIREC leaders are expected to play significant roles as part of wider non-kinetic approaches to peace.
He stated that much success has been achieved, but much more work is needed in the short, medium, and long term. He added that the most concerning issue which the government expects NIREC to address is the erosion of mutual trust among followers of different faiths, as reflected in the views expressed and the tone of such rhetoric.
Akume noted that, having identified this as a weak link, the government expects that NIREC, as committed leaders of faith, will openly discuss this as a critical agenda item at the meeting and take steps to recover lost ground in terms of eroded trust, unity, peaceful co-existence, and collaboration. He added that President Tinubu is looking forward to effective recommendations on this matter, among other outcomes from the meeting.
He observed that the recent violent incidents from Yelwata in Benue State to Eruku in Kwara, and attacks across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara, have deepened public anxiety, even as government intensifies rescue efforts and arrests of criminal elements responsible.
Akume observed that Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the U.S. government further highlights the need for stronger domestic engagement to address global misconceptions. While diplomatic efforts have achieved progress, he stated that much more work remains to be done in both the short and long term.
The SGF explained that while both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered devastating losses from insurgency, banditry, and communal violence, public narratives often wrongly depict the crises as one-sided. He urged Nigerians to avoid framing violence solely along religious lines, emphasising that such narratives deepen suspicion and undermine national cohesion.
He said, “I find it necessary to mention the narrative on genocide and the lack of contextualisation in it. The nature of violence in Nigeria has been viewed through the lenses of religion against one group or the other. Government pleads for caution in this regard.
“Admittedly, Christian communities in parts of our country have suffered horrific attacks, but so have Muslim communities.NIREC’s leadership has rightly pointed out that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of massacres in Nigeria. Independent analyses also confirm this position that Boko Haram and related insurgencies have killed thousands of people since 2009.
“Likewise, in the banditry-ravaged Northwest, citizens of Islamic faith have often been the primary victims of killings and kidnappings, while in parts of the North-Central, many victims of communal violence have been Christians, often farmers attacked in resource conflicts. Contextually, Nigeria is impacted by a global cum regional phenomenon, and we must address these challenges at every level. The point is not to engage in a gruesome scorecard, but to underscore that violence in Nigeria is not monolithic or one-sided. Both major faith groups bleed when any Nigerian is killed. Thus, an interfaith approach to peace is not only ideal but also necessary, as it recognises our shared humanity and builds mutual trust. Our united front is essential for healing the wounds in our society and preventing the escalation of distrust along religious lines.”
The SGF reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to vigorously delivering on the constitutional mandate of welfare and security for all citizens.
On sovereignty, the SGF emphasised that while Nigeria welcomes international partnerships. “Nigerians must work out Nigerian solutions,” adding that government remains fully committed to protecting every community, regardless of religious affiliation. He added that an interfaith approach to peacebuilding is now “not only ideal but necessary” to restore mutual trust.
He outlined areas where government and faith leaders must now collaborate more deeply: inclusive policymaking, early-warning systems for conflict, joint peacebuilding efforts, and the promotion of justice and the rule of law. He also stressed the importance of educating young Nigerians to resist hate propaganda and extremist narratives.
On his part, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), who is also Co-Chairman of NIREC, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, remarked that the meeting comes at a most critical moment in national history as Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity that threatens our collective survival and national cohesion, adding that banditry, kidnapping for ransom, violent extremism, and other forms of criminality have spread across the country-leaving behind sorrow, fear, and displacement.
Okoh stated that the daily loss of innocent lives is alarming and heartbreaking, emphasising that communities are being deserted and citizens are becoming increasingly anxious about their safety — at home, on farms, on highways, and even in places of worship.
He said, “Beyond the human tragedy, insecurity is crippling our economy. Farmers are unable to access their farmlands, traders face rising operational challenges, and investors are discouraged by uncertainty. These realities continue to deepen poverty, hunger, and frustration-conditions that further fuel instability. While the government bears the constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, religious leaders carry a sacred moral responsibility to build mutual trust and foster religious harmony within communities.”
The CAN President acknowledged the ongoing efforts of the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to reduce the level of insecurity in our nation.
He commanded renewed initiatives to strengthen the security architecture to combat terrorist and bandit activities across the country, “and we encourage His Excellency to do more.”
Okoh pointed out that NIREC remains a strategic national asset that enables the different religions to speak with one voice against violence, condemn criminality in all its forms – irrespective of the victims’ identity – and affirm that no religion justifies the taking of innocent lives. “This, I trust, we shall continue to uphold with all sincerity,” he said.
He reaffirmed CAN”s commitment to support NIREC and collaborate with government in restoring peace and security nationwide, but warned that peace cannot be sustained without justice.
Okoh insisted that perpetrators of violence and those who finance them or encourage them must be held accountable; victims must be supported and rehabilitated; and communities must be reassured that the rule of law protects every citizen equally.
Also speaking, Co-Chairman of NIREC and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, highlighted the need for sincerity in inter-religious dialogue if they truly want it to continue.
He said, “Let’s discuss so we can agree on one issue: should this NIREC continue? As the founding fathers established it, should we carry on with NIREC? Should we continue these discussions? We come together, talk about many good things, laugh, and then leave. But behind our backs, I might start saying negative things about Mr. A, Pastor A, Imam B, and others. That is most unreligious. When I say unreligious, I mean it because our leaders never teach us to tell lies, backbite, or hate one another. We are always taught to be kind to our neighbours. Love your neighbours as you love yourself.”
Abubakar said that Nigeria is a multi-religious country because all the religions in the country are allowed to flourish, adding that the Sharia law is strictly meant for Muslims.
He said, “If there’s anybody who wants to bring a Muslim, I mean, a Christian to Sharia court, that is wrong. Just as he has Sharia court, you have other laws in the country that are not for Muslims, that are for everybody. So the Sharia law is for Muslims and for Muslims alone.”
