With just a few months to go before Nigeria holds major elections, a new peace accord aims to ease religious tensions in the country. Christianity and Islam have been the two main religious communities, with the population split into a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south.

The agreement signed by representatives of both religions, comes after years of violence by Islamist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. While Christians have been among the victims, analysts say the vast number of Muslims have also been killed.

Under the theme of “Religion and Building Social Harmony”, the inter-faith meeting was held in Abuja in mid August, and aimed to strengthen joint action in the areas of conflict prevention and the protection of the national fabric in all its religious and ethnic diversity. It culiminated with the signing of a peace accord which urges an end to hate speech, insults and rhetoric targeting other faiths. It also emphasises the importance of rejecting inflammatory rhetoric.

According to International Christian Concern, John Praise Daniel, chairman of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders’ Assembly, hopes that the agreement will help reduce divisive rhetoric among religious leaders, including hate speech, disrespect toward other faiths, and language that labels members of other religions as unbelievers.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin represented President Bola Tinubu at the signing ceremony, while three northern state governors attended. Jibrin confirmed the governments determination to keep Nigeria united despite the country’s religious and other differences.

It’s hoped that this gathering, and agreement between 50 religious leaders will mark a turning point into inter-faith relations in Nigeria, ahead of the January 2027 election, when religion is expected to remain a major factor in politics. Christian Daily International, notes that President Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress is again running a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, as it did in 2023. “The decision breaks the longstanding practice of balancing presidential tickets between Nigeria’s two largest religious communities and is likely to keep questions of religious representation in the political debate.”

The agreement, was organised by the Muslim World League. Mohammad Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, said the initiative reflected a willingness among religious leaders to move beyond division. “We do not deny that extremist ideas have harmed everyone; all have been affected by it,” Al-Issa said.