By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
Christian and Muslim leaders in Nigeria have tasked religious, community leaders to be the first response over conflicts in a new Interfaith Code of Conduct (ICoC) aimed at tackling hate speech, preventing violence and promoting peaceful coexistence and national cohesion.
The Code was unveiled at the Abuja Peace Conference, organised as part of the 8th General Assembly of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP), under the theme: “Hate Speech and Violence: The Role of State and Non-State Actors in Nation-Building.”
The initiative, supported by the International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID, provides a shared, values-based framework to guide religious leaders and other stakeholders in addressing religious, ethnic, political and social tensions across the country.
The conference was convened by the IDFP in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in partnership with KAICIID.
It brought together the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR; the President of CAN, His Grace, the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Okoh; religious leaders, government representatives, peacebuilding practitioners, civil society organisations, journalists, as well as women and youth representatives from communities across Nigeria.
The conference focused on the urgent need for state and non-state actors to confront hate speech and violence as major threats to peace and national development.
Participants also emphasised stronger collaboration between Christian and Muslim leaders as a critical pathway to promoting harmony, democratic consolidation and nation-building.
A panel discussion on Thursday, July, 23rd, 2026, examined Nigeria’s current social and security challenges and explored how the ICoC could be applied practically to address division, harmful narratives and emerging conflict risks.
The discussion stressed that the Code must go beyond a symbolic declaration and become a practical tool integrated into sermons, community dialogue, media engagement, youth and women initiatives, peace education and public communication.
Developed through a Nigerian-led interfaith process in collaboration with KAICIID, the Code sets out 10 core values for Christian-Muslim engagement.
These include mutual love and respect, protection of the sacred, human dignity, prevention of hate speech and blasphemy, peaceful conflict resolution, justice, integrity and ethical conduct, transparency and accountability, respect for lawful authority, and compassion and empathy.
The Code is expected to guide religious leaders in their preaching, public statements, media engagements, conflict response and interactions with people of different faiths and backgrounds.
It will also serve as a reference for journalists, civil society organisations, government institutions, educators, traditional leaders and peacebuilders whose decisions and public communication can influence religious relations and community stability.
The Code further challenges journalists to exercise responsibility when reporting or commenting on religious issues by avoiding harmful narratives, stereotypes and language capable of deepening conflict.
A major message from the conference was the need for interfaith dialogue to move beyond statements of goodwill and become part of everyday community practice.
Participants said the Code would provide religious and community leaders with a practical reference point for de-escalating tensions, rejecting inflammatory rhetoric, protecting sacred spaces and promoting dialogue as the first response to conflict.
Speaking on the
significance of the launch, KAICIID Acting Secretary-General, Ambassador António de Almeida Ribeiro, said the occasion was deeply meaningful to the organisation.
“For us at KAICIID, this moment is deeply meaningful. Since the establishment of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace back in 2015, we have been privileged to accompany and be part of the journey Nigerian religious leaders have been doing as they continue to demonstrate that dialogue is courage,” he said.
He added: “This Code speaks to the heart of our shared humanity. It reminds us that every person carries dignity.”
The conference is expected to produce a multi-stakeholder action plan outlining practical steps for integrating the ICoC into community engagement, public discourse, peacebuilding initiatives and relevant institutional processes.
Participants called for the broad dissemination of the Code across churches, mosques, schools, traditional institutions, media platforms, community organisations and relevant government agencies.
They also advocated follow-up training, community-level adoption and sustained engagement with religious leaders and other influential actors who shape public opinion.
The launch of the Interfaith Code of Conduct marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s peacebuilding efforts, with stakeholders now focusing on translating its principles into practical action at the national, state and local levels.
The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace is Nigeria’s premier national interfaith platform, comprising 120 high-level Christian and Muslim religious leaders drawn equally from the country’s two major faith communities.
“Established in 2016 with the support of KAICIID, the Forum promotes dialogue, mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence and social cohesion, while providing a strategic platform for addressing religious tensions, preventing conflict and advancing collaborative peacebuilding initiatives across Nigeria.
“The communiqué was jointly read by the Co-Chairmen: Rev. Abainatus Akila Hamman, Ameer Muhammad Jameel Muhammad
