The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, has called on Nigerians to reject religious fanaticism and embrace tolerance as a means of fostering national peace, unity, and development.
Speaking at the inaugural Taravest Summit held in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, on Wednesday, Archbishop Kaigama emphasised the need for religious harmony, noting that no faith promotes violence.
“People should be educated to desist from religious fanaticism and embrace peace for sustainable development because no religion preaches violence,” he said.
Using football as a metaphor for national unity, he pointed out that during matches, Nigerians celebrate goals collectively without regard to religious identity.
“Each time a goal is scored, everyone shouts in excitement as one person belonging to one nation. Nobody says the goal was scored by a Christian or a Muslim — we simply celebrate because Nigeria has scored,” he added.
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The archbishop also stressed that peace and security are only possible when ethnic and religious harmony is prioritised. He described tolerance and mutual acceptance as essential to achieving sustainable development across Nigeria’s diverse communities.
Kaigama further advocated for practical implementation of inter-religious dialogue and called for a more productive use of land and national resources.
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