The United Kingdom (UK) Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), David Smith MP, has called for greater tolerance across religions or beliefs.

Smith made this known while concluding a three-day visit to Abuja this week, marking Nigeria as the first focus country he has visited under the UK’s FoRB strategy.

During the visit, David Smith MP held several meetings with senior Nigerian government officials, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and local communities.

Smith had discussions with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang. The Special Envoy also met with the co-chairs of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and President-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, HRH the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.

At the end of the visit, Smith said: “Over the past few days, I have been honoured to meet a wide range of people, from senior government figures and civil society to faith leaders and local communities. I came to listen, learn, and see how freedom of religion or belief is experienced in everyday life, and how it connects to and is a core part of addressing Nigeria’s wider challenges around security and cohesion.

“Some of the most powerful moments of this visit were at the community level. Visiting Father Emmanuel Unamba’s parish and meeting Christian and Muslim neighbours living side by side was a real reminder that peaceful coexistence is something people build every day through leadership, dialogue, and shared responsibility.”

Speaking to the various stakeholders, Smith called for greater tolerance across religions or beliefs in Nigeria and hoped that the cohesion he saw on a community level in the capital could be achieved nationwide with the same resolve. He hoped to continue these dialogues with interlocutors in the UK.