Idris Calls for National Unity to Tackle Insecurity, Division

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians to put aside religious, ethnic and political differences and unite in confronting insecurity and other challenges facing the country.

Idris made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at an international conference on *“Diversity and Social Peace: A Partnership for a Promising Future,”* organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) in partnership with the Muslim World League.

He said the gathering demonstrated the importance of bringing Nigerians from different backgrounds together to promote peace, noting that the country’s stability and development depended on cooperation across religious and ethnic lines.

The minister warned that allowing divisions to dominate national discourse could further complicate efforts to tackle insecurity.

“All of us need to come together, think as Nigerians, think as human beings, and work together, irrespective of our differences, so that we can act as one,” Idris said.

He said the fight against insecurity required a collective approach, warning that religious divisions could be exploited by those seeking to deepen instability.

“There is no time for differences. If, in our fight against insecurity, we allow religious differences, it will only exacerbate the problem. The need for us to come together as one people is important,” he said.

Idris clarified that the conference was not organised by the Federal Government but welcomed the initiative, saying efforts that promote interfaith dialogue, peaceful coexistence and national cohesion were important to the country.

He maintained that national unity was also essential to achieving economic prosperity, stressing that Nigerians must work together to move the country forward.

The minister further pointed to Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa, saying instability in the country would have consequences beyond its borders.

“Nigeria is a very important country. It is a country of over 230 million people. Peace and tranquillity here mean peace and tranquillity everywhere in Africa and, indeed, the world,” Idris said.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, reaffirmed the President’s commitment to national unity, sustainable security and international cooperation.

Barau said the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with international partners and other stakeholders in its efforts to promote peace and stability.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, urged Nigerians to protect their shared humanity and reject attempts to exploit religion, ethnicity and poverty for divisive purposes.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, called for sustained dialogue and honesty in confronting Nigeria’s challenges.

The Sultan also urged leaders and stakeholders to focus on implementing solutions rather than merely identifying problems, while advocating stronger interreligious cooperation and renewed efforts to rebuild public trust.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, urged Nigerians to view the country’s diversity as a strength rather than a source of division.

Yilwatda noted that despite differences in faith and ethnicity, Nigerians shared common aspirations and faced many of the same challenges.

The National Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, called for closer cooperation between government, religious organisations and communities to address insecurity.

Lau also advocated greater investment in education and skills development, particularly for young people, saying such measures could reduce their vulnerability to radicalisation and recruitment into criminal activities.

The conference attracted senior government officials, political leaders, religious and traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps and civil society representatives, with discussions centred on diversity, social cohesion and the search for sustainable peace in Nigeria.