The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigeria Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) have called on the Federal and state governments to identify and punish individuals, groups, or organizations responsible for terror and hardship inflicted on Nigerians by armed non-state actors.
The religious bodies made this appeal on Monday during the fourth quarterly meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja. The meeting was co-chaired by CAN President Daniel Okoh and the President-General of NSCIA, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
Speaking at the event, Okoh stressed that Nigeria’s vast natural resources, including oil, gas, and arable land, should be engines of development. However, he lamented that mismanagement and greed have turned these resources into sources of conflict and insecurity.
“Our natural resources, instead of being blessings, have often become catalysts for strife and insecurity due to mismanagement and greed,” Okoh said. He urged religious leaders to advocate for accountability and equitable resource distribution while promoting peace and justice.
Sultan Abubakar emphasized the need for Nigerians to return to God and urged politicians to avoid amassing unnecessary wealth. He reminded leaders that resources should be used to improve the lives of others.
“No matter what you have in this world, it doesn’t belong to you. God placed it in your hands to better the lives of people around you,” the Sultan stated.
Rev. Cornelius Omonokhua, NIREC’s Executive Secretary, also highlighted the negative impact of resource exploitation, citing the environmental and economic challenges in the Niger Delta and insecurity fueled by gold mining in Zamfara.
Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), commended NIREC for fostering religious harmony, which he said has contributed to national development. He assured the council that the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is addressing issues undermining Nigeria’s growth and urged continued support for national unity.
The event concluded with prayers for peace and better prospects in 2025, as Sultan Abubakar acknowledged the financial and social challenges Nigerians faced in 2024.
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