The Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN) has urged the Federal Government to establish a Special Council on Freedom of Religion to monitor, investigate, and prosecute violations of citizens’ religious rights across the country.
This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by CHAIN’s Chief Executive Officer, Rev. (Dr.) Joseph John Hayab, and Chairman, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu Jnr, at the end of a one-day roundtable conference themed “Building Synergy Among Faith-Based NGOs for Freedom of Religion or Belief,” held in Kaduna.
The forum, which brought together faith leaders, human rights advocates, and civil society representatives, emphasized the need for a national policy on freedom of religion and belief to ensure equal protection and opportunities for all faiths to thrive without fear or restriction.
CHAIN called on governments at all levels to maintain neutrality in religious affairs, warning that any form of bias or preference for one religion undermines the state’s moral authority to protect citizens’ rights and threatens national unity.
According to the communiqué: “Nigeria’s peace and stability depend on the government’s ability to guarantee equal protection for every religion and belief system. The state must remain neutral to preserve justice and national cohesion.”
The statement further noted that enforcing or promoting a particular doctrine contradicts constitutional guarantees, stressing that freedom of religion or belief is both a constitutional and moral obligation for building an inclusive and peaceful nation.
Participants also called for stronger judicial independence and greater accountability among law enforcement agencies in handling cases of religiously motivated violence.
They advocated the inclusion of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) education in school curricula to foster interfaith understanding and tolerance from an early age.
“Freedom of religion or belief safeguards individuals, not religions,” CHAIN stated. “Our diversity should be a source of strength, not division.”
The conference, attended by leading faith-based organizations and policy experts, commended Prof. Sam Amadi and Barr. Joseph Danboyi for their insightful presentations, and applauded CHAIN’s leadership for promoting unity in the pursuit of justice, equality, and peaceful coexistence.
