Daniel Bwala, special adviser on media and policy communication to President Bola Tinubu, on Monday met with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and described the allegation of “Christian genocide” in the country as misleading.
The meeting was part of the presidency’s ongoing engagement with faith-based organisations to promote understanding, strengthen national unity, and address religious and security concerns.
Bwala conveyed President Tinubu’s warm greetings to the Christian community, assuring them that the administration remains committed to protecting all Nigerians regardless of religion or ethnicity.
“President Tinubu holds the Christian community in high esteem and recognises the invaluable role the Church plays in building peace and social cohesion,” he said.
“The government is not involved, either passively or actively, in the insecurity confronting some parts of the country.
“These challenges have evolved beyond religion, with root causes linked to climate change, extremist ideologies, and economic hardship.”
Bwala noted that some Western media outlets and US congressmen had recently circulated misleading claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
“Such narratives are inaccurate,” he said. “Reports from the U.S. Institute of Peace, Transparency International, and Human Rights Watch confirm that while insurgency began with religious undertones, it has since become a broader security and economic crisis.
“The killings in Plateau and Benue are tragic, but so are those in Zamfara and Katsina. Insecurity is a national, not sectarian, problem.”
Bwala reiterated that the Tinubu administration considers the Church a strategic partner in nation-building.
“We are servants to the public servant—the President,” he said. “Your feedback helps shape our approach to inclusive governance and strengthens our collective resolve to secure and unite Nigeria.”
Responding, Daniel Okoh, president of CAN, commended the Tinubu administration for engaging directly with Christian leaders on national issues.
“We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this dialogue on the so-called ‘Christian genocide’ narrative,” Okoh said.
“CAN remains open to collaboration with government on governance and security reforms that promote peace and stability.”
He invited Dr. Bwala to address CAN’s next national assembly to further strengthen understanding between the Church and government.
The meeting was attended by senior CAN officials, including Stephen Panya Baba (vice-president), Samson A. Fatokun (general secretary), and Uzoaku Juliana Williams (assistant general secretary), among others.
