By Mercy Peter
The Federal Government Thursday restated its unwavering commitment to the protection of Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB), describing it as a constitutionally guaranteed right and a critical foundation for national unity, peaceful coexistence and democratic governance in Nigeria.
The assurance was given during a courtesy visit by a joint delegation from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), The Kukah Centre and the Nasrul-Lahi-il-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, who received the delegation on behalf of the Minister .
The Permanent Secretary, Mr Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, welcomed the delegation and described the participating organisations as critical stakeholders in peacebuilding, human rights protection and the promotion of interfaith harmony.
“I reaffirm the commitment of the Federal Government to freedom of religion and belief, which remains a constitutionally guaranteed right in Nigeria,” he said. “Freedom of religion and belief is central to national unity, social stability and democratic governance, and it must be protected at all times.”
He noted that the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, particularly in the areas of strategic communication and national reorientation, aligns closely with efforts to promote tolerance, counter hate speech, and prevent misinformation and incitement.
“Dialogue, not division, remains Nigeria’s strongest tool for addressing differences,” the Permanent Secretary said, while assuring the delegation that the Ministry would explore sustained engagement beyond advocacy visits.
He said, could include public enlightenment initiatives, collaborative campaigns and content development focused on promoting religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
He further emphasised that the Federal Government regards civil society organisations and faith-based institutions as key partners in nation-building and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to remain constructively engaged on freedom of religion and belief issues in the overall national interest.
The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to formally present reports and a policy brief arising from the first and second phases of a joint project aimed at establishing sustainable mechanisms for monitoring freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting organisations, a representative of the NHRC explained that the initiative was designed to strengthen peaceful coexistence and safeguard the fundamental right to religious freedom.
She noted that the project, which has been implemented over the past two years, focused on systematic monitoring, documentation and data collection on violations of freedom of religion and belief across the country.
“This initiative was launched with a clear objective to promote peaceful coexistence and protect freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria,” she said. “We have been working collaboratively to monitor and collect credible data on FoRB-related violations, so that discussions and interventions are grounded in facts and evidence.”
She explained that the first phase of the project concentrated on building trust and mutual understanding among religious leaders, civil society organisations and community influencers.
This phase included interfaith dialogues and a comprehensive survey conducted across six states in both the northern and southern regions of the country.
According to her, the second phase of the project focused specifically on Kano and Ebonyi States, where an inclusive monitoring network was established to document real-time cases of FoRB violations.
She said, was designed to ensure that reporting and advocacy efforts are evidence-based and responsive to developments on the ground.
The delegation also disclosed that the project incorporated extensive public awareness campaigns through radio programmes aired in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, English and Pidgin. These broadcasts were transmitted across the six geopolitical zones to promote tolerance, mutual respect and awareness of religious rights.
The policy brief submitted to the Ministry, she added, was intended to support informed government decision-making and strengthen inclusive and participatory governance.
