The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has called on religious and traditional leaders nationwide to promote tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and unity as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The SGF emphasized the critical role of faith-based and traditional institutions in preventing division and fostering understanding among citizens.

Speaking in Abuja at the first triannual meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, themed “Religious Literacy for National Cohesion,” Akume urged leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation, youth engagement, and collaboration to ensure peaceful electoral processes before, during, and after the polls.

He stressed that Nigeria’s religious and cultural diversity makes tolerance and mutual understanding essential for national stability.

According to him, eliminating manipulation, stereotypes, and misinformation is key to preventing violence and strengthening trust within communities.

The SGF also highlighted the growing importance of religious literacy, noting that it must be complemented by media and information literacy, and urged citizens to verify information, reject hate speech, and resist divisive narratives, especially in an era of widespread misinformation.

He raised concerns over insecurity affecting the education sector, warning that attacks on schools and prolonged closures are worsening the country’s education challenges, calling for stronger implementation of safe school policies to ensure children can learn in secure environments.

Akume concluded by urging stakeholders including schools, media, and community leaders to work together in building a generation committed to peace, patriotism, and unity.and expressed confidence that the council’s deliberations would yield practical solutions to strengthen national cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Federal Government has warned state governments and school authorities against arbitrary closure of schools due to insecurity, stressing that such measures should only be taken as a last resort after exhausting all security options.

The government emphasised that indiscriminate school shutdowns disrupt learning, exacerbate the number of out-of-school children, and should not become the default response to security challenges.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued the warning on Wednesday, saying the Federal Government is collaborating with security agencies to strengthen protection for schools, particularly in vulnerable areas.

“While the safety of students, teachers and staff remains paramount, closing schools routinely is not the solution. We must prioritise securing the schools rather than shutting them down,” the minister stated.

The directive comes amid concerns over repeated disruptions to academic activities in parts of the country, especially in the North, where banditry and other security threats have previously forced temporary closures of public and unity schools.

Alausa urged state governors to work closely with federal authorities to implement safety measures, including the deployment of security personnel, installation of surveillance systems, and community engagement, instead of resorting to mass closures.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, who also spoke on the issue, called for a balanced approach that protects lives without sacrificing the future of Nigerian children through prolonged interruption of education.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to the Safe Schools Initiative and other programmes aimed at making educational institutions safer across the country.

Amnesty International Nigeria has welcomed a Federal High Court ruling that restrains the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from enforcing its controversial sanctions against broadcasters, describing the decision as a significant victory for freedom of expression and media independence.

The organisation made the commendation in a statement on its X handle on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.Justice Daniel Osiagor, on Monday, May 5, 2026, granted an interim injunction ordering the NBC to suspend the implementation of its “Formal Notice” issued on May 2, pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

The matter has been adjourned to June 1, 2026.The NBC directive had threatened sanctions against broadcast stations and presenters for allegedly presenting personal opinions as facts, intimidating or bullying guests, or failing to maintain neutrality in programmes.

Amnesty criticised the notice as vague, overly broad, and open to abuse, warning that its enforcement would create a chilling effect on the media and silence critical voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The ruling by Justice Daniel Osiagor marks an important step toward protecting freedom of expression and media independence in Nigeria,” the statement said.

While hailing the interim relief, Amnesty cautioned that the order is not a final judgment and urged the NBC to fully withdraw the directive to prevent further threats to press freedom.

“Amnesty International Nigeria calls on the NBC to withdraw the ‘Formal Notice’ in full and refrain from enforcing similar measures that undermine constitutional and international guarantees of freedom of expression,” it added.

The rights group further called on Nigerian authorities to allow journalists and broadcasters to perform their duties without intimidation or undue regulatory interference.