The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, says it is completely wrong for Christians to be taken to Sharia courts or forced to follow Sharia rules.
He said this on Wednesday during the opening of the 2025 meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja.
The theme of the meeting was “Collaboration of Inter-Religious Council with Government to Promote Peace in Nigeria.”
The Sultan explained that Sharia is strictly for Muslims, and no Christian should be made to dress, act, or pray like Muslims.
He stressed that Nigeria is a multi-religious country, not a secular one, and that the government supports both Islam and Christianity without adopting either as a state religion.
He also rejected recent calls to scrap Sharia law, saying Nigeria allows all religions to practice freely without interference.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, also spoke at the event. He called for stronger cooperation between NIREC and the Federal Government to help build peace and fight insecurity.
Tajudeen warned that extremist groups are trying to use religion to divide the country, and praised NIREC for promoting unity over the years.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said Nigeria is facing serious challenges, including insecurity, political tension, and declining trust among citizens. He added that the country is also being misrepresented internationally because of misinformation about its security issues.
Akume assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will continue to protect lives and property.
He urged religious and traditional leaders to work together to encourage peace.
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said Nigeria is at a dangerous point in its history because insecurity threatens national unity.
He noted that religious institutions are highly trusted and can play a major role in building peace.
He called for closer partnership between the government and religious groups to encourage dialogue, unite communities, and promote tolerance.
The Executive Secretary of NIREC, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, also spoke.
He said religious leaders must work more closely with the government to defeat terrorism and banditry.
According to him, every human life matters, and all leaders must join hands to protect the people.
He prayed for wisdom for Nigerian leaders and asked for a change of heart for criminals, hoping they will turn into law-abiding citizens.
He also prayed for Nigerians to adopt positive values.
Christians not to be subjected to Sharia law – Sultan of Sokoto
