President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held an audience with the Catholic Archbishop of the Diocese of Abuja, Most Rev. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Photographs of the meeting were released by the State House at 17:39.
The purpose of the meeting was not disclosed at the time of reporting. In a message shared on his official X handle, Tinubu reiterated that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and said his administration has maintained open engagement with leaders of all faiths to strengthen peace and security across the country.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
He rejected recent foreign narratives portraying Nigeria as intolerant, adding, “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.”
The meeting comes amid heightened pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria and threatened possible American military intervention if the killings continued. Tinubu affirmed that his government would continue to work with the United States and other international partners to promote mutual understanding and protect all faith communities.
No further details of their discussion were provided.
