•Says he looks forward to hosting Pope Leo
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to prioritising interfaith dialogue and promoting peace, harmony, and tolerance among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
The president, who made this known yesterday while receiving in audience the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, at his residence in Abuja, declared: “My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths.
“Our Bishops and religious leaders have been doing a great deal. Please tell them to continue the good work they are doing. Let them continue to preach peace and tolerance. We cannot have an excess of that.”
Tinubu said interfaith dialogue was the only path to addressing the country’s security challenges.
He told the archbishop that he had a long and cordial relationship with the Catholic Church, especially during his time as governor in Lagos State, adding that he strongly supported the Church’s contributions to education and health.
The president said this belief led him to prioritise returning mission schools to religious institutions as soon as he became governor.
The schools were taken over during the previous military administrations.
His words: “I appreciate the Pope. It was an honour for me to lead the Nigerian delegation to his inauguration as Pope Leo XIV. It was a moment of history. I see his efforts all over the world to promote World Peace. We need his spiritual engagement, as millions around the world look up to him. I look forward to receiving him in Nigeria.
“I understand the roles that the Catholic Church has been playing in expanding the frontiers of education, health and humanitarianism in Nigeria. It means a lot to us in Nigeria, and the country is benefiting from it.
“We are also doing a lot to guarantee freedom of worship. As you may be aware, my wife is a pastor at an evangelical church. This downplays the religious connotation that the religious controversy in our country might have taken.”
The president assured his guest that the Nigerian military had made significant progress in recent times and remained committed to sustaining these achievements, recognising that a single incident could undermine previous gains.
He stated that more resources were being allocated to security, with intensified surveillance, particularly in previously ungoverned areas.
Tinubu assured the archbishop that his government was also investing in the youth to prevent their exploitation by terrorists and reduce vulnerability to radicalisation.
Earlier, Archbishop Gallagher said he was in Nigeria for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Holy See, noting that Nigeria was very strategic to the Catholic Church because of its vibrant Catholic community.
He also conveyed Pope Leo XIV’s appreciation for President Tinubu’s presence at his inauguration and shared his impressions of Veritas University, established by the Catholic community in Abuja, noting its remarkable progress.
The archbishop described Nigeria as the heart of Africa and home to some of the most successful activities of Bishops on the continent and commended President Tinubu’s efforts in promoting peace, particularly through military initiatives, and encouraged continued dedication. He also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for facilitating visas for bishops and for its responsiveness to the Church’s various needs.
Gallagher informed President Tinubu that he looked forward to receiving the Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See in a few weeks and assured him that this visit would be the first of several special visits from the Holy See.
Accompanying Archbishop Gallagher were H.E. Archbishop Michael F. Crotty, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria; Rev. Monsignor Suman Paul Anthony, Official of the Secretariat of State – Section for Relations with States and International Organisations; and Rev. Monsignor Patarne Koyassambia-Kozondo, First Secretary, Apostolic Nunciature in Nigeria.