President Bola Tinubu has recalled his long-standing relationship with the Catholic Church, saying his administration will keep working with religious leaders to strengthen peace, tolerance and harmony across Nigeria.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, after the President received Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Holy See, at his residence in Abuja.
Tinubu said his experience with the Catholic Church dated back to his tenure as governor of Lagos State, where he supported the return of mission schools to their original owners after they had been taken over during military rule.
The President said the decision reflected his belief in the contributions of religious organisations to national development, particularly in the education and health sectors.
He also maintained that dialogue among faiths remains the best way to tackle insecurity in the country.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Speaking on security, Tinubu said the Armed Forces had recorded major gains against criminal elements and pledged sustained support through increased funding and stronger surveillance, especially in areas that had previously lacked government presence.
He also said his administration was investing in young people to shield them from recruitment by terrorist groups and reduce the risk of radicalisation.
Earlier, Archbishop Gallagher said he was in Nigeria to participate in activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Holy See, describing the country as strategically important to the Catholic Church because of its large and active Catholic population.
The Archbishop conveyed Pope Leo XIV’s appreciation to Tinubu for attending his inauguration and praised the growth of Veritas University in Abuja.
He described Nigeria as the heart of Africa and home to some of the continent’s strongest Catholic communities, while praising the President’s efforts to promote peace through military operations. Gallagher also thanked the Nigerian government for easing visa processes for bishops and responding to the needs of the Church.
He expressed hope that the Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See would be received in the coming weeks, adding that his trip would be the first of several visits from the Holy See to Nigeria.