By our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening interfaith dialogue and partnering with religious leaders to promote peace, tolerance and national unity across Nigeria.
The President made the pledge on Saturday while receiving Paul Richard Gallagher, at his residence in Abuja. The Vatican envoy was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu.
Tinubu said interfaith dialogue remains the most effective path to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, stressing that his administration would continue to work with leaders of all faiths to foster religious harmony.
“My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths. Our Bishops and religious leaders have been doing a great deal. Please tell them to continue the good work they are doing. Let them continue to preach peace and tolerance. We cannot have an excess of that,” the President said.
He also commended the contributions of the Catholic Church to education, healthcare and humanitarian services in Nigeria, recalling his long-standing relationship with the Church during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
According to Tinubu, his appreciation for the Church’s role in nation-building informed his decision to return mission schools to their original religious proprietors after they had been taken over during successive military administrations.
The President expressed admiration for Pope Leo XIV, describing it as an honour to have led Nigeria’s delegation to the Pope’s inauguration.
“I appreciate the Pope. It was an honour for me to lead the Nigerian delegation to his inauguration as Pope Leo XIV. It was a moment of history. I see his efforts all over the world to promote world peace. We need his spiritual engagement, as millions around the world look up to him. I look forward to receiving him in Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
On security, the President assured his guest that the Nigerian military had recorded significant gains in the fight against insecurity and that his administration remained committed to consolidating those achievements.
He disclosed that more resources were being deployed to strengthen security operations, including enhanced surveillance in previously ungoverned areas, while investments in youth development were also being prioritised to reduce vulnerability to radicalisation and terrorist recruitment.
Earlier, Archbishop Gallagher said he was in Nigeria to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Holy See.
He described Nigeria as strategic to the Catholic Church because of its vibrant Catholic population and conveyed Pope Leo XIV’s appreciation to President Tinubu for attending his inauguration.
The Archbishop also praised the progress made by Veritas University in Abuja and described Nigeria as the heart of Africa with one of the continent’s most vibrant Catholic communities.
He commended the Tinubu administration’s efforts to promote peace, particularly through military operations against insecurity, and expressed appreciation for the Federal Government’s support to the Church, including the facilitation of visas for Catholic bishops.
Gallagher also informed the President that he looked forward to receiving Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Holy See in the coming weeks and expressed optimism that the visit would strengthen diplomatic relations between both parties.
