•Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan (left); Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; Sultan of Sokoto/President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; Holy See’s Secretary for States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Gallagher; Emir of Argungu, Kebbi State, His Royal Highness Samaila Muhammadu Mera and Archbishop Michael Crotty, during a meeting aimed at fostering peace, unity, and mutual understanding at the National Mosque in Abuja, yesterday.
Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and representative of Pope Leo XIV – Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher – have called for concerted action against extremism, hate speech and fake news.
The religious leaders made the call yesterday during a courtesy visit by Archbishop Gallagher to the Sultan at the National Mosque in Abuja, reports The Guardian.
Gallagher was accompanied by senior leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, including Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama; and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah.
Speaking on behalf of the Sultan after the closed-door meeting, the Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said the visit underscored the importance of sustained dialogue between the two faiths in addressing growing social and moral challenges.
According to Shehu, the discussions focused on fostering mutual understanding and strengthening cooperation among religious communities to promote peace and security.
On his part, Gallagher described the discussions as frank and enlightening, saying he was encouraged by the level of agreement between the Vatican and the Sultan on the role of religious leaders in nation-building.
“The visit has been very, very good. I was delighted to be invited by His Eminence, the Sultan.
“We had a very frank and illuminating conversation, and 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.”
The meeting came a day after President Bola Tinubu received Archbishop Gallagher at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
During the visit, the president expressed Nigeria’s desire to deepen relations with the Holy See and said he looked forward to welcoming Pope Leo XIV to the country.
