President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday urged Nigerians to deepen religious tolerance, unity and peaceful coexistence, describing them as indispensable pillars for national security and sustainable development.
The President made the call at the 4th International Conference of the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue held at Bayero University, Kano, where the legacy of renowned Islamic scholar, the late Sheikh Mahmud Abubakar Gummi, was being examined.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the Centre and the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna, for sustaining interfaith engagement aimed at promoting peace, harmony and national cohesion.
He said the conference’s focus on Sheikh Gummi was timely, noting that the cleric played a historic role in shaping post-independence Nigeria through his advocacy for unity and peaceful coexistence across religious and ethnic divides.
“Sheikh Gummi was not just a scholar but a teacher, reformer, adviser and prolific writer. He mentored generations to believe in the indivisibility of Nigeria — in work and in worship,” the President said.
According to Tinubu, the late Islamic scholar understood the delicate intersection of faith and governance, working closely with authorities after independence and during the post-civil war era to promote national stability.
Addressing Nigeria’s contemporary security challenges, the President warned against narratives portraying the country as intolerant of religious freedom, describing such claims as misleading and dangerous to national cohesion.
“Our national security is tied to our unity, our togetherness and our respect for religious diversity. We must forge a united front against those who seek to divide us,” he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to protect lives and property and confront criminality nationwide, disclosing that more than 7,000 trained forest guards had been deployed across the country to block criminal movements through forest corridors.
He added that efforts were ongoing to institutionalise community policing through state policing, in line with constitutional provisions, as part of broader reforms to strengthen internal security.
The President also said that following the declaration of a national security emergency in November 2025, security operations had been expanded in states affected by terrorism and banditry, with intelligence-led operations being intensified to dismantle criminal networks.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States, stressing that it remained focused on counterterrorism and civilian protection while respecting the country’s sovereignty.
“Our security alliance with the United States is strategic, operationally led by Nigerian troops, and targeted at protecting vulnerable communities,” he said.
Tinubu concluded by urging Nigerians to uphold shared values and mutual respect, describing unity as the foundation for enduring peace and development.
The conference attracted prominent Islamic scholars and leaders, including Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Chairman of Jama’atul Izalatul Bidi’a Wa’Ikamatul Sunnah; Prof. Shehu Ahmad Galadanci, Chief Imam of Kano State; the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Haruna Musa; Sheikh Ahmad Mahmud Gummi; and retired General Abdulkadir Mahmud Gummi, among others.
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