By Toyin Victor, ABUJA
The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, has called on Christian and Muslim leaders to turn their shared values into collective action towards tackling insecurity, corruption and other challenges confronting Nigeria.
The call was made at NIREC’s 2026 second council meeting in Abuja, held under the theme, “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.” President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the theme goes beyond managing religious differences to exploring how people of different faiths can work together for the common good.
Archbishop Okoh said Christians and Muslims can retain their distinctive beliefs while contributing to national development through shared values of love, compassion, justice, forgiveness, service and concern for others.
He identified insecurity, poverty, unemployment, inequality and a crisis of trust as major challenges facing the country, urging religious institutions to use their influence to build bridges, promote reconciliation and protect vulnerable Nigerians.
Also speaking, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said Nigeria’s religious diversity should be a force for peace, justice, integrity and national development rather than division.
Olukoyede said financial crime has no religion or tribe, stressing that the diversion of public funds harms Nigerians by denying them access to healthcare, education, infrastructure, pensions and economic opportunities.
The EFCC Chairman urged pastors and imams to discourage the celebration of unexplained wealth and promote integrity, accountability and honest labour among their followers. He also presented the EFCC Inter-Faith Manual, designed to support anti-corruption messages in Christian and Muslim communities.
In his remarks, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appreciation to NIREC members for their commitment to peace, harmony and national stability.
Akume called on religious and traditional leaders to work with government and security agencies against banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence. He also urged faith leaders to prevent political activities from being used to deepen religious divisions ahead of the election season.
The Senator Akume announced plans for state-level NIREC forums involving security agencies, INEC officials and religious representatives to identify potential flashpoints, while advocating peace caravans, youth and women-led initiatives and stronger cooperation to counter religious misinformation.