Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has commended the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA for promoting interfaith peace, harmony and tolerance.
Osinbajo gave this commendation while declaring open a three-day General Assembly/National Executive Meeting, NEC of NSCIA at the Central Mosque, Abuja.
He said the council not only promoted solidarity among Nigerians, but it also served as an important intermediary between government and Muslim community and between Muslims and persons of other faith.
Osinbajo said that decade ago, it would not have been a major topic as leaders in the first republic did not consider religious intolerance as a major national issue. He said that Nigerian Constitution spelt out the equality of all Nigerians regardless of ethnicity, religion or status.
The Sultan of Sokoko Muhammad Abubakar said that Nigeria, like any other nation, was facing challenges which would be surmounted in people across faith and ethnicity joined hands.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary, NSCIA Salisu Shehu, said the meeting was the highest decision making forum of the council.