FG Reaffirms Commitment to Freedom of Religion as Constitutionally Guaranteed Right in Nigeria. By Shalom Oludele
FG Reaffirms Commitment to Freedom of Religion as Constitutionally Guaranteed Right in Nigeria
The honourable minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the protection of Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) as a constitutionally guaranteed right and a pillar of national unity and peaceful coexistence.
This is according to a statement by the director Public Relations and Protocol, Suleiman Haruna, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, made available to journalists, toon Thursday,
The minister, represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit on Wednesday by a delegation from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), The Kukah Centre, and the Nasrul-Lahi-il-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting organisations, the NHRC representative explained that the delegation was at the ministry to present the reports and policy brief from the first and second phases of a joint project focused on establishing mechanisms for monitoring freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria.
“This initiative was launched with a clear purpose to strengthen peaceful coexistence and protect the fundamental right to religious freedom in Nigeria,” she said, adding that, “for the past two years, we have been working in partnership on monitoring and collecting data on violations of freedom of religion and belief.”
She noted that the first phase of the project focused on building trust and understanding among religious leaders, civil society actors, and community influencers through interfaith dialogue and a survey conducted across six states in the North and South.
According to her, the second phase concentrated on Kano and Ebonyi States, where an inclusive monitoring network was established to document real-time cases of FoRB violations.
“We wanted a situation where we can have evidence-based proof, so that when we are talking, we are talking from the point of knowledge,” she said.
The delegation also disclosed that the project included radio campaigns in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, English, and Pidgin, aired across the six geopolitical zones, to promote awareness and tolerance. The policy brief submitted to the ministry, she added, was intended to support government decision-making and strengthen inclusive governance.
The permanent secretary welcomed the delegation on behalf of the minister, describing them as “critical stakeholders in peacebuilding, human rights protection and interfaith harmony.”
“I will reaffirm the freedom of religion and belief by the federal government, which is a constitutionally guaranteed right in Nigeria,” he said, adding that “Freedom of religion and belief is central to national unity, stability and democratic governance.”
He stated that the ministry’s mandate in strategic communication and national orientation aligns directly with promoting tolerance, countering hate speech, and preventing misinformation and incitement. “Dialogue, not division, remains Nigeria’s strongest tool,” he added, while assuring the delegation that the ministry would explore continued engagement beyond advocacy visits, including public enlightenment and content development on religious tolerance.
The permanent secretary further reiterated that the FG views civil society and faith-based organisations as partners in nation-building and expressed the ministry’s willingness to remain engaged on FoRB-related issues in the national interest.
Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, S.A Media to the honourable minister of Information and National Orientation; Sunday Baba, fnipr; S.A Admin to the honourable minister of Information and National Orientation, and other top management staff of the ministry were in attendance.
