CAN Demands Practical Christian-Muslim Action Against Insecurity, Poverty

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has challenged religious leaders to examine the impact of their words, actions and influence on Nigeria’s worsening security, economic and social challenges.

The CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said religious institutions could no longer afford to limit their engagement to dialogue and calls for peace, but must actively work with one another to address the conditions threatening the well-being of Nigerians.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja at a meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), with the theme, “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.”

He said insecurity, poverty, unemployment, inequality, communal tensions and a growing crisis of trust required a collective response from Nigerians, particularly Christian and Muslim leaders who wield significant moral and social influence.

“As religious leaders, therefore, we must ask ourselves: What kind of Nigeria are we helping to create through our words, our actions and our influence?” Okoh asked.

He urged churches, mosques and other religious institutions to deploy their influence towards building bridges, promoting reconciliation and encouraging citizens to place the common good above sectional interests.

According to him, the concept of shared sacred flourishing should translate into practical collaboration between Christians and Muslims in areas such as peacebuilding, education, youth development, humanitarian assistance, poverty reduction, ethical leadership and protection of vulnerable people.

He said the objective should be to create a society where citizens could live with dignity and hope, irrespective of their religious background.

Okoh maintained that the country’s religious diversity should not be allowed to become a source of division, arguing that Christians and Muslims could retain their distinctive beliefs while cooperating on issues affecting society.

He said values shared by both faith traditions, including compassion, justice, mercy, forgiveness, service and concern for others, could be harnessed to strengthen the common good.

The CAN president said national prosperity should also be viewed beyond economic growth and physical infrastructure, stressing that the security and dignity of citizens were equally important indicators of a flourishing society.

“A flourishing Nigeria cannot be measured only by economic growth, infrastructure or material prosperity.

“It must also be measured by the security of our people, the dignity accorded to every citizen, the opportunities available to our young people, the protection of the vulnerable, respect for freedom of religion, justice and the strength of our institutions,” he said.

He further called for greater commitment to protecting human life, regardless of religious identity.

Okoh said the killing, kidnapping, displacement or degradation of any Nigerian should concern every citizen, warning against treating suffering through a religious or sectional lens.

“The suffering of a Christian should concern a Muslim, just as the suffering of a Muslim should concern a Christian. When any Nigerian is killed, displaced, kidnapped or deprived of dignity, our common humanity demands that we care,” he said.

He urged NIREC to strengthen its role as a platform for translating interfaith dialogue into practical initiatives that improve lives and strengthen peaceful coexistence.

Okoh also commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, for supporting the council and its vision of peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.

He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting NIREC and providing resources for the council’s meetings.

The CAN president reaffirmed the association’s commitment to working with NIREC and Muslim leaders, saying cooperation on peace, justice, human dignity and national development could help address some of the challenges confronting the country.

He urged religious leaders to pursue a Nigeria where Christians and Muslims would not merely tolerate one another but actively cooperate for the common good, while ensuring that religious diversity became a source of strength rather than division.