President Bola Tinubu on Friday received the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in Abuja, in what sources describe as part of ongoing consultations with key national and religious figures.
The meeting, held inside the President’s office at the State House, was also attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Though the details were not disclosed, it is believed to have centred on peacebuilding efforts and the need to strengthen religious harmony across the country.
The Sultan, who leads the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, is regarded as the foremost spiritual authority for Muslims in Nigeria.
His visit came just days after the President hosted the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, at the Villa, a development seen as reflective of Tinubu’s drive to promote dialogue between Christian and Muslim leaders.
Observers view the back-to-back meetings as a signal that the administration is paying close attention to interfaith relations, especially amid renewed international criticism over alleged attacks on Christian communities.
Last week, former U.S. President Donald Trump accused Nigeria’s government of failing to safeguard Christians, describing the situation as “genocidal.”
His comments reignited debate about religious violence and drew a sharp response from Abuja.
Reacting to the allegations, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims as misleading, insisting that the government remains committed to the protection of all Nigerians regardless of faith.
“Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the Tinubu administration continues to uphold that right,” Idris told State House correspondents earlier in the week.
At Thursday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, President Tinubu restated his government’s determination to defeat terrorism and sustain cooperation with international partners in addressing insecurity.
“We will not relent in defending every Nigerian, whatever their belief or background,” the President was quoted as saying.
While no official statement has yet been released on the outcome of Friday’s audience with the Sultan, insiders say the talks reflect Tinubu’s broader effort to engage influential voices in maintaining unity and stability across Nigeria.
