Sultan, Vatican Envoy Advocate Stronger Muslim-Christian Partnership Against Hate Speech, Fake News
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Paul Richard Gallagher, have called for closer cooperation between Muslim and Christian leaders to promote peace, counter hate speech and fake news, and reinforce moral values across Nigeria.
The appeal was made on Monday during a meeting at the National Mosque in Abuja, where the Sultan hosted Archbishop Gallagher and a Papal delegation that included Vatican officials and leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued by the NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Salisu Shehu, the visit was aimed at strengthening dialogue and collaboration between religious communities in support of peace, national unity and security.
The Sultan praised the Catholic Church in Nigeria for its commitment to interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, describing the partnership between Muslims and Christians as essential to Nigeria’s stability and development.
Speaking after the meeting, Archbishop Gallagher said the discussions revealed a shared commitment by both faiths to work together for the welfare of all Nigerians.
He noted that the meeting was open and productive, adding that Muslim and Christian leaders hold similar views on the responsibility of religious institutions in promoting peace, unity and the common good.
The discussions focused on key challenges affecting harmonious coexistence, including hate speech, fake news, declining moral values and the growing disconnect between young people and religion.
The religious leaders identified hate speech as a major threat to national harmony and stressed the need for faith communities to jointly discourage inflammatory rhetoric and the public abuse of respected religious leaders.
They also warned that fake news continues to fuel misinformation, deepen divisions and threaten peace, urging collective efforts to curb its spread.
The meeting further expressed concern about over what participants described as increasing moral decline in society and encouraged religious leaders to intensify efforts to promote ethical conduct and positive values.
The leaders also highlighted the need to engage young people more effectively to strengthen their faith, moral upbringing and commitment to peaceful coexistence.
The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding cooperation between the NSCIA and the Catholic Church in advancing interfaith understanding, national unity and social harmony in Nigeria.
