President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the need for national unity, religious harmony and peaceful coexistence as key pillars for Nigeria’s development and stability, ahead of an international security conference in Abuja.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, restated the President’s position while announcing a global security conference organised by the Muslim World League in partnership with the Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS).
According to Idris, the conference, scheduled to hold at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, will bring together religious leaders and stakeholders from different backgrounds to discuss strategies for promoting peace, national cohesion and security.
The minister spoke during the inauguration of a newly constructed mosque in Abuja by the Secretary General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa.
He described the visit of Sheikh Al-Issa as a reflection of the growing relationship between Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the international community, noting that the conference comes at a critical period when the country is strengthening its security architecture while pursuing economic and social reforms.
Idris stressed that President Tinubu remains committed to fostering peaceful coexistence among Nigerians regardless of religious or ethnic affiliations, adding that peace and security are indispensable to the nation’s prosperity and influence on the African continent.
“The President is determined to ensure peace and tranquility not just in Nigeria, but around the world. This is a clear demonstration of the path that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking,” he said.
He further noted that as Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria has a responsibility to champion peace and stability across the continent, arguing that a secure Nigeria would have positive implications for the wider West African region.
The minister also appealed to Nigerians to set aside religious, ethnic and political differences in the collective effort to address insecurity. He warned that divisions and intolerance could deepen existing challenges and undermine efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace.
“There is no time for differences. If, in our fight against insecurity, we allow religious differences, it will only exacerbate the problem. The need for us to come together as one people is important,” Idris added.
The conference is expected to explore the link between peace, security and socio-economic development while encouraging dialogue and mutual understanding among adherents of different faiths.
