Sultan, Vatican Envoy Unite Against Hate Speech, Fake News

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Paul Richard Gallagher, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening interfaith cooperation and promoting peace, tolerance and national unity in Nigeria.

The commitment was made on Monday after the Sultan received Archbishop Gallagher and his delegation, which included Vatican officials and leaders of the Catholic community in Nigeria, at the boardroom of the National Mosque in Abuja.

Briefing journalists after the closed-door meeting, the Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Salisu Shehu, said the discussions centred on fostering mutual understanding between Muslims and Christians while deepening collaboration to address Nigeria’s security and social challenges.

According to him, the visit underscored the shared resolve of both faith communities to promote peace and peaceful coexistence, not only in Nigeria but across the world.

He said the Sultan commended the Catholic Church in Nigeria for its longstanding commitment to harmonious relations and its willingness to work with Muslim leaders through interfaith organisations and initiatives aimed at strengthening national unity.

Prof Shehu disclosed that one of the major concerns raised during the meeting was the growing menace of hate speech, which he described as one of the greatest threats to peaceful coexistence.

He noted that inflammatory rhetoric and the increasing trend of publicly insulting respected religious leaders had fuelled mistrust and strained relationships among different faith communities.

“There was a strong call for all religious and faith communities to work together to combat hate speech and ensure that respect is accorded not only to religious leaders but to every individual,” he said.

The meeting also identified fake news as another major challenge undermining peace and security, with both sides stressing the need for collective efforts to curb the spread of misinformation that can trigger conflict.

Beyond security concerns, the religious leaders expressed concern about what they described as a growing moral degeneration worldwide, urging faith leaders to play a more active role in promoting ethical values and addressing social decay.

They also discussed the increasing rejection of religion among young people, describing the rise of atheism within both Muslim and Christian communities as a challenge requiring greater engagement by religious institutions.

Speaking after the meeting, Archbishop Gallagher described his discussions with the Sultan as “very frank and illuminating”, saying he was encouraged by the level of agreement between both sides on the responsibilities of religious leaders.

He said the meeting reinforced his optimism about Nigeria’s future, noting that Muslim and Christian leaders shared a common conviction that they must work together in the interest of all Nigerians.

“It was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide,” Archbishop Gallagher said.

“For me, this is a reason for optimism regarding the religious cohesion of the country and our shared commitment to working for the good of all Nigerians.

“There is a common view and a common conviction that Christians and Muslims, particularly their leaders, must work together for the common good of all Nigerians.”