The United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith, has concluded a three-day official visit to Nigeria aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue, religious tolerance and Nigerian-led peacebuilding initiatives.
The visit, which ended Thursday in Abuja, marked Nigeria as the first focus country under the UK’s Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) strategy, highlighting Britain’s growing concern over religious tensions and insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation.
During the visit, Smith held a series of high-level meetings with government officials, religious leaders, civil society groups and local communities to strengthen collaboration on religious freedom and social cohesion.
According to the British High Commission in Nigeria, the envoy met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.
Smith also engaged with prominent religious leaders, including Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, who also serves as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
Speaking at the conclusion of the visit, Smith said the trip offered deeper insight into how freedom of religion or belief intersects with national issues such as insecurity and social cohesion.
“Over the past few days, I have been honoured to meet a wide range of people — from senior government figures and civil society to faith leaders and local communities,” he said.
“I came to listen, learn, and see both how freedom of religion or belief is experienced in everyday life, and how it connects to — and is a core part of addressing — Nigeria’s wider challenges around security and cohesion.”
The envoy described as one of the highlights of the visit his interaction with Christian and Muslim communities living peacefully together at the grassroots level.
He cited his visit to the parish of Father Emmanuel Unamba, where he met Christian and Muslim neighbours coexisting harmoniously, describing it as evidence that unity can be achieved through dialogue, leadership and collective responsibility.
Smith stressed that sustainable progress in religious harmony must remain locally driven and anchored on strong institutions and inclusive engagement.
“What I take away from this visit is the importance of further progress being Nigerian-led, rooted in strong institutions and inclusive dialogue, with FoRB at its heart,” he said. “The UK will continue to support practical efforts in ensuring greater peace, security and prosperity for all.”
As part of the visit, the UK envoy also met with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the National Human Rights Commission and several civil society organisations working on insecurity and religious freedom.
He also visited the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, and participated in a roundtable with partners of the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme.
The SPRiNG initiative, funded by the UK government with £38 million, supports peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and Plateau states through early warning systems and locally driven dispute resolution mechanisms.
British authorities said the visit builds on the momentum generated by the March 2026 state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom, which reinforced the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and featured interfaith engagements attended by President Tinubu and King Charles III.
The UK’s FoRB strategy, launched in July 2025, identifies Nigeria as a priority country because of concerns over religiously linked violence and the need to strengthen peaceful coexistence among diverse communities.
