Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Most Rev. Dr Daniel Okoh, have issued a powerful joint call to all Nigerians to reject hate speech and embrace dialogue as the foundation for lasting peace and national unity, as Christian and Muslim leaders converged on Abuja to formally unveil the Interfaith Code of Conduct, a landmark framework designed to combat hate speech, curb religious intolerance, and foster peaceful coexistence across the country. The appeal was made at the Abuja Peace Conference, held as part of the 8th General Assembly of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace on Thursday, July 23, 2026, where religious leaders, government officials, peacebuilding practitioners, civil society groups, journalists, women and youth leaders gathered to examine practical ways of countering religious tensions and harmful narratives in an increasingly polarised national environment.
Represented by Professor Muhammad Isah Maishanu, the Sultan of Sokoto set the tone for the historic gathering with an uncompromising call for faith leaders to become builders of peace rather than purveyors of division, warning that hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric continue to drive conflicts in many communities across Nigeria. The Sultan said religious leaders have a sacred responsibility to use their influence to foster peace rather than deepen divisions, challenging them to promote tolerance, understanding and mutual respect through their teachings and public engagements. He emphasised that the newly launched Interfaith Code of Conduct provides a practical framework for deepening cooperation between Christians and Muslims while encouraging responsible religious leadership capable of promoting peaceful coexistence. "Dialogue remains the most effective tool for resolving differences," the Sultan said, adding that Nigeria's religious diversity should be regarded as a source of strength rather than division.
Reinforcing that message, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, represented by Most Rev. Dr Benebo Fubara-Manuel, described the launch of the Code as a significant milestone in Nigeria's peacebuilding efforts, saying it reflects the shared commitment of Christian and Muslim leaders to fostering harmony and addressing the root causes of violence and intolerance across the country. He urged religious leaders to translate the principles of the Code into practical action through sermons, public engagement and community-based peace initiatives instead of allowing them to remain lofty ideals. Archbishop Okoh also called on government institutions, civil society organisations, traditional rulers and the media to support the implementation of the Code, stressing that building a peaceful nation demands collective responsibility. "Faith leaders must continue to champion dialogue, reconciliation and justice while discouraging messages capable of inciting violence or promoting religious hatred," he added.
The Interfaith Code of Conduct was jointly signed and unveiled by the representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto and the CAN President at the two-day General Assembly of the IDFP, which was convened under the theme "Hate Speech and Violence: The Role of State and Non-State Actors in Nation-Building." Developed through a Nigerian-led interfaith process with the support of the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), the Code outlines ten core values that Christians and Muslims have embraced as a shared commitment to responsible religious leadership, mutual respect, peaceful communication and the outright rejection of hate speech, incitement, violence and all forms of religious and ethnic intolerance. These values include mutual love and respect, protection of the sacred, respect for human dignity, rejection of hate speech, peaceful conflict resolution, justice, integrity, transparency, accountability, respect for lawful authority and compassion.
Presenting the Code, the IDFP co-chairmen, Imam Yusuf Yakubu Arrigasiyu and Rev. Abainitus Akila Hamman Jr, described it as a defining milestone in Nigeria's interfaith peacebuilding efforts, declaring that the Code must not remain a document on a shelf but must become a living commitment that influences words, guides actions and shapes leadership. They urged religious leaders to ensure that their messages unite rather than divide communities, stressing that peace must become a daily practice in churches, mosques, schools, communities and online platforms. The clerics challenged Nigerians to reject hate speech, political violence and the manipulation of ethnic and religious differences, while embracing dialogue, forgiveness and tolerance as the foundations of lasting peace.
Speaking on the sidelines of the assembly, University of Abuja scholar Professor Abubakar Sadeeque Abba warned that hate speech and violence had become "weaponised" as tools for political, economic and social advancement in Nigeria, attributing the growing menace largely to weak enforcement of existing laws and accusing governments at various levels of failing to hold perpetrators accountable. He urged political actors to distinguish between issue-based campaign messaging and inflammatory rhetoric, while calling on authorities to enforce laws against hate speech without fear or favour. Agustín Núñez, Senior Programme Manager at KAICIID, reaffirmed the organisation's support for Nigerian faith-based organisations in promoting peaceful coexistence, noting that religious leaders occupy a unique position of trust within their communities and are therefore indispensable partners in preventing conflict, countering hate speech and promoting dialogue.
The conference, which was jointly convened by the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, in partnership with KAICIID, concluded with a renewed commitment by religious leaders to transform the Interfaith Code of Conduct from a symbolic document into a practical guide for fostering peace, unity and responsible communication across Nigeria. Participants resolved to promote the Code across churches, mosques, schools, media organisations and communities nationwide as part of efforts to strengthen national cohesion and prevent conflicts, calling for sustained collaboration among religious leaders, government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that interfaith dialogue becomes an integral part of Nigeria's peacebuilding and nation-building efforts. In a country where religious and ethnic differences have too often been exploited to divide communities, the Sultan and CAN President's joint call to reject hate speech and embrace dialogue represents a historic moment of unity and a powerful reminder that Nigeria's diversity should be a source of strength, not a weapon of destruction.
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