Sultan, Vatican envoy seek stronger Muslim-Christian cooperation, tackle hate speech, fake news in Nigeria
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The call came during a meeting at the National Mosque in Abuja, where the Sultan received Archbishop Gallagher, who led a Papal delegation comprising Vatican officials and leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, on Monday July 6, 2026, called for stronger collaboration between Muslim and Christian leaders to promote peace, combat hate speech and fake news, and strengthen moral values in Nigeria.
The call came during a meeting at the National Mosque in Abuja, where the Sultan received Archbishop Gallagher, who led a Papal delegation comprising Vatican officials and leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
According to a statement by the NSCIA’s Deputy Secretary-General, Professor Salisu Shehu, the visit was aimed at deepening mutual understanding and enhancing cooperation among religious communities in advancing peace, peaceful coexistence and security in Nigeria and beyond.
Welcoming the delegation, the Sultan commended the Catholic Church in Nigeria for its commitment to interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, describing the relationship between both faith communities as vital to national unity and stability.
Speaking after the meeting, Archbishop Gallagher expressed optimism about the future of interfaith relations in Nigeria, saying the discussions revealed a shared commitment by Muslim and Christian leaders to work together for the common good.
“The visit has been very, very good. I was delighted to be invited by His Eminence, the Sultan,” Gallagher said.
“We had a very frank and illuminating conversation, and it was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide.
“For me, this is a reason for optimism regarding the religious cohesion of the country and our shared commitment to working for the good of all Nigerians.
“There is a common view and a common conviction that Christians and Muslims, particularly their leaders, must work together for the common good of all Nigerians.”
Professor Shehu said discussions centred on several issues affecting peaceful coexistence, including hate speech, fake news, moral decline and the growing rejection of religion among young people.
He said participants identified hate speech as one of the greatest threats to harmony among faith communities, noting that inflammatory rhetoric had fuelled mistrust and damaged relationships across religious divides.
“They strongly emphasised the need for all religious and faith communities to work together to combat hate speech, especially the growing trend of publicly insulting respected religious leaders,” Shehu said.
The meeting also urged Nigerians to cultivate respect for one another, regardless of religious affiliation or social status.
On fake news, the religious leaders described the spread of misinformation as a dangerous tool capable of inciting violence and undermining national peace, stressing the need for collective action to counter its effects.
The delegation and the Sultan also expressed concern over what they described as increasing moral degeneration across the world, urging religious leaders to intensify efforts to promote ethical values and responsible conduct within their communities.
The meeting further examined the growing rejection of religion among young people in both the Muslim and Christian communities, with participants calling for greater engagement to strengthen faith, moral guidance and shared values.
The DEFENDER reports that other Muslim leaders who joined the Sultan in receiving the important guest, whose members of entourage included the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Anthony Onayekan and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Kukah, were the Emir of Argunguu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammadu Mera, Deputy Secretary General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Salisu Shehu, among others.
The visit underscored the longstanding commitment of the NSCIA and the Catholic Church to strengthening interfaith relations and advancing peace, unity and social harmony in Nigeria.
