President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious liberty, saying the country will always uphold the constitutional right of every citizen to freely practice their faith.
In a statement from the Presidency on Saturday, Tinubu said, “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so.”
The President noted that since 2023, his administration has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while addressing security challenges affecting citizens across all regions and faiths.
He dismissed what he called a mischaracterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, stressing that it does not reflect the country’s reality nor the government’s consistent efforts to safeguard freedom of belief.
“Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Our government continues to work tirelessly to protect citizens of all faiths,” Tinubu added.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to collaborate with the United States government and other international partners to deepen understanding and strengthen cooperation on protecting religious communities across the country.
Tinubu’s message comes as a response to United States President Donald Trump’s declaration of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern”.
