Hate Speech: CAN, NSCIA Unveil Historic Inter-faith Code Of Conduct

Nigeria’s leading Christian and Muslim leaders have taken a major step towards strengthening national unity with the unveiling and signing of a landmark Inter-faith Code of Conduct designed to combat hate speech, curb religious intolerance and foster peaceful coexistence across the country.

The historic signing of the Code was the highlight of 8th General Assembly of the Inter-faith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) held in Abuja, yesterday.

The document was jointly signed and unveiled by the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Muhammad Isah Maishanu and the representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Benebo Fubara-Manuel, symbolising a united commitment by both faiths to promote dialogue over division.

Presenting the Code, IDFP co-chairmen, Imam Yusuf Yakubu Arrigasiyu and Rev. Abainitus Akila Hamman Jr, described it as a defining milestone in Nigeria’s inter-faith peacebuilding efforts.

They said the Code embodies 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.

“The Code of Conduct must not remain a document on a shelf. It must become a living commitment. It must influence our words, guide our actions and shape our leadership,” the co-chairmen declared.

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.

Calling for collective responsibility in nation-building, the clerics said Nigeria’s future could not be secured by government or religious leaders alone, but through the combined efforts of all citizens.

They 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, guest speaker and University of Abuja scholar, Prof. Abubakar Sadeeque Abba, warned that hate speech and violence had become “weaponised” as tools for political, economic and social advancement in Nigeria.

He attributed the growing menace largely to weak enforcement of existing laws, accusing governments at various levels of failing to hold perpetrators accountable.

Prof. Abba 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.

He also challenged citizens to reject politicians who exploit religious and ethnic divisions for political gain, insisting that effective enforcement of the law remains critical to reducing violence.

Also speaking, Agustín Núñez, Senior Programme Manager at the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), reaffirmed the organisation’s support for Nigerian faith-based organisations in promoting peaceful coexistence.

He noted that the newly launched Code is built around 10 shared values embraced by Christians and Muslims, including the prevention of hate speech and blasphemy.

According to Núñez, 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 two-day General Assembly concluded with a renewed commitment by religious leaders to transform the Inter-faith Code of Conduct from a symbolic document into a practical guide for fostering peace, unity and responsible communication across Nigeria.