By Ebunoluwa Sessou

The United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, FoRB, David Smith MP, has called for greater religious tolerance in Nigeria, expressing hope that the peaceful coexistence witnessed at community level in Abuja could be replicated across the country.

Speaking at the end of a three-day visit to Abuja, Smith described Nigeria as a country that can strengthen unity through strong institutions and inclusive dialogue, with freedom of religion or belief placed at the centre of national cohesion.

The visit marked Nigeria as the first focus country under the United Kingdom’s FoRB strategy.
According to Smith, the visit builds on the momentum generated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, which reinforced the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and featured interfaith engagements attended by President Tinubu and His Majesty The King.

During the visit, Smith held meetings with senior government officials, religious leaders, civil society organisations and local communities as part of efforts aimed at promoting sustained engagement on freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.

Among those he met were the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.

He also met with the co-chairs of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is also President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

“Over the past few days, I have been honoured to meet a wide range of people from senior government figures and civil society to faith leaders and local communities. I came to listen, learn, and see both how freedom of religion or belief is experienced in everyday life, and how it connects to, and is a core part of addressing Nigeria’s wider challenges around security and cohesion.

“Some of the most powerful moments of this visit were at community level. Visiting Father Emmanuel Unamba’s parish and meeting Christian and Muslim neighbours living side by side was a real reminder that peaceful coexistence is something people build every day through leadership, dialogue and shared responsibility.

“What I take away from this visit is the importance of further progress being Nigerian-led, rooted in strong institutions and inclusive dialogue, with FoRB at its heart. The UK will continue to support practical efforts in ensuring greater peace, security and prosperity for all”, he said.

The visit also featured a roundtable session with partners of the United Kingdom’s Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme, a £38 million UK government-funded conflict and resilience initiative operating mainly in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and Plateau states.

Smith further held discussions with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the National Human Rights Commission and civil society groups working on issues relating to insecurity and religious freedom.
As part of his engagements, he also visited the National Mosque Abuja and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.