Nigeria’s Muslim and Christian Leaders Sign Interfaith Peace Accord
More than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders have signed a new interfaith peace accord in Abuja, launching a joint framework aimed at reducing religious tensions, extremist rhetoric and hate speech across Nigeria.
The agreement was reached during an international conference organised by the Muslim World League under the theme Diversity and Social Peace: A Partnership for a Promising Future. Religious leaders, government representatives and civil-society organisations took part in the gathering.
The conference produced what organisers described as the Abuja Declaration, including a joint action plan involving government institutions as well as Muslim and Christian leaders and civil-society groups. The Muslim World League said the initiative is intended to promote social peace across West Africa.
Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammad Al-Issa said extremist ideas had damaged communities across religious lines and called for greater cooperation between faith groups.
Nigerian Christian and Muslim representatives also backed the agreement.
John Praise Daniel, chairman of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders’ Assembly, said the initiative should help discourage hate speech and disrespect between religious communities. Khalid Abubakar of Jama’atu Nasri Islam described the agreement as cooperation between faiths rather than an attempt to weaken individual religious beliefs.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, representing President Bola Tinubu at the conference, said the government remained committed to national unity despite religious and other differences. Three northern state governors were also present.
The agreement arrives at a sensitive moment for Nigeria, where religion remains closely connected to public debate, politics and security.
Nigeria has faced more than 15 years of violence involving Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, particularly in the northeast. Christians and Muslims have both been killed in attacks, while analysts and rights groups cited by Reuters say Muslims have accounted for the majority of victims in the predominantly Muslim region.
International attention also intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Nigeria last November over what he described as attacks against Christians. His comments were not referenced in the official statements announcing the Abuja accord, and the new agreement should not be presented as a direct response to Trump.
The accord builds on other recent interfaith initiatives in the country. In July, Christian and Muslim leaders working with the International Dialogue Centre KAICIID launched a revised Interfaith Code of Conduct focused on preventing hate speech, promoting responsible religious leadership and strengthening peaceful coexistence.
With Nigeria approaching another national election cycle, the effectiveness of the latest accord will depend on whether its commitments translate from conference declarations into sustained cooperation within communities.
