President Bola Tinubu has restated that Nigeria is not witnessing any form of genocide against Christians but an act of terrorism affecting individuals across different religions.
He made this position clear on Friday while declaring open the 8th Biennial Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) in Abuja.
The event, themed “Building Resilience in a Changing World: The Role of Faith and Community,” saw Tinubu represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi.
He emphasised that the country’s security troubles stem from terrorism rooted in criminality and extremism rather than religion.
Tinubu noted that the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to address the nation’s security challenges. His remarks followed recent allegations, including those referenced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over claims of Christian genocide.
“In recent times, the Federal Government and other persons of goodwill, had to address unfounded allegations. The allegations are not only false, but harmful, and capable of inflaming passions and disrupting the sustenance of the peaceful coexistence which we continue to build as a nation,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s official response had been “clear, firm, and measured,” stressing that the nation neither encourages nor tolerates persecution of any religious group.
Tinubu said the roots of insecurity were “historical, economic and criminal issues, not religious issues,” adding that both Muslims and Christians had suffered at the hands of terrorists.
“As President, I reiterate with all sense of responsibility and fidelity to the constitution that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria, and there is no Muslim genocide in Nigeria. What we have is terrorism driven by criminality, extremism, challenges we are working tirelessly to overcome,” he said.
The President also restated the administration’s commitment to national unity, religious liberty, and the safety of every citizen, urging Nigerians to resist divisive narratives. He praised NASFAT for advancing moderation, tolerance and service to humanity, noting that such values help strengthen peace and cohesion.
He added that the government was pursuing wide-ranging reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, attracting investment and creating opportunities. While acknowledging the temporary difficulties many citizens face due to these reforms, he assured that efforts were underway to ease the pressure and expand support systems.
Tinubu also stressed that government alone could not achieve national resilience, calling for continued collaboration with faith-based organisations to uphold strong values, counter misinformation, and promote unity.
In his keynote address, Dr Nurudeen Lemu urged Muslims to hold firmly to their faith and remain hopeful despite the country’s challenges. He encouraged all Nigerians to adopt patience and optimism to help rebuild the nation. Lemu also advocated greater cooperation among faith-based groups to support good governance and socio-economic development.
Prof. Ishiaq Oloyede, Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, described NASFAT as one of the country’s leading Islamic organisations, adding that it was capable of attaining even higher distinction.
Lemu later prayed for continued divine strength for the society and noted that the world was evolving, meaning the application of Islamic principles in public life must also adapt. “For those who are thinking very well, they will know that Islam is not in a good,” he said.
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