The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has warned that rising religious intolerance, hate speech, fake news and moral decline pose serious threats to Nigeria’s unity and peaceful coexistence.
The Sultan gave the warning in Abuja while receiving the Vatican’s envoy, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, and his team during a meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation between Muslim and Christian leaders on peacebuilding and national development.
Represented by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Salisu Shehu, the Sultan stressed the need for both faith communities to deepen dialogue, mutual understanding and collaboration in addressing insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.
He noted that hate speech has continued to fuel distrust and deepen divisions among religious groups, while the spread of fake news has heightened tensions and contributed to avoidable crises.
The Sultan also condemned the growing trend of insulting respected religious leaders, urging Nigerians to promote mutual respect across religious and ethnic divides.
He further expressed concern over what he described as a decline in moral values and the increasing rejection of religious teachings among young people, calling for greater emphasis on moral and faith-based education.
Speaking after the meeting, Archbishop Gallagher described the discussions as “very frank and illuminating,” saying Muslim and Christian leaders share common values and responsibilities in promoting peace, religious harmony and the common good.
He expressed optimism that sustained interfaith dialogue and cooperation would strengthen national unity and contribute to lasting peace and stability in Nigeria.
