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Youth Interfaith Group Holds Town Hall Meeting to Combat Religious Discrimination in Plateau communities
In an effort to address the pressing issue of religious discrimination and promote peace and unity within the community, Dutsen Kura Youth Interfaith Group in the Bassa local government area of Plateau State has partnered with the Rural Communities Development Network (RURCON) to organize a town hall meeting at YWAM 1.
The event, held on September 1, brought together diverse group of community leaders, religious figures, and participants eager to tackle the challenges of religious discrimination.
The Dutsen Kura Youth Lead, Atina Joseph Adick in his welcome remarks expressed the meeting’s purpose.
He said, “The purpose of this interfaith gathering is to discuss the issue of religious discrimination, themed ‘Say No to Religious Discrimination and Violence.’ We have collaborated with JISRA through RURCON, engaging in activities such as sensitization in primary schools and capacity-building training for peaceful coexistence. Today, we gather our elders, religious leaders, and village heads to guide us in our journey towards a more harmonious community.”
Mr. Jallang David, PGM facilitator for the Dutsen Kura community gave an overview on the participatory grantmaking initiative that lead to the organization of the town hall meeting by members of the community.
He said, “The town hall meeting aimed to highlight the importance of participatory grantmaking (PGM) in the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) and its role in transforming power dynamics within the community. Participatory grantmaking empowers local partners and communities to make funding decisions, shifting them from mere beneficiaries to leaders and decision-makers in their own right.”
Ten respected figures from both Christian and Muslim backgrounds addressed the participants:
- Alhajern Muhammed, an Imam, emphasized the true teachings of Islam, urging all to live in peace regardless of religious differences. He denounced those who incite violence in the name of religion, emphasizing the importance of genuine faith.
- Patric Anchuk, a Reverend, highlighted the biblical mandate to live in peace with one another, stating that unity is central to Christianity. He reminded attendees that salvation demands loving one’s neighbor and even enemies.
- Abubakar Yunusi, another Imam, stressed the common origin of both religions and the need to fear God. He called for the immediate resolution of misunderstandings and conflicts.
- Pastor Joseph Auta urged attendees to extend love and forgiveness to all, regardless of their religious beliefs. He emphasized that this commandment applies to everyone, not just fellow Christians.
- Ingmala Auibine, a village head, shared how peaceful coexistence had been a longstanding tradition in the community. He encouraged attendees to let go of differences, resolve conflicts, and share their newfound knowledge with others.
- Ardo Wada called for unity, emphasizing that God created everyone with the same characteristics. He cautioned against being used for political purposes, as it only leads to more suffering.
- Rev. Musa Ugino underscored the responsibility of religious and community leaders in promoting peace. He urged them to stay true to their pursuit of peace and avoid propagating personal interests.
- John Adeupe, a ward head, reminded the audience of generations of peaceful coexistence in the community. He warned against falling victim to politicians’ divisive strategies.
- Ardo Bako questioned why people would discriminate based on religion when they didn’t consider it in other aspects of life, such as medical treatment or transportation. He labeled religious discrimination as childish.
During a Q&A session, participants inquired about the root causes of religious discrimination and its link to politics. The panel addressed the issue of fake clerics spreading false doctrines for personal gain and how poverty could be exploited by politicians to create division.
The leaders offered a way forward, highlighting the importance of forgiveness, upholding true religious teachings, avoiding excessive drinking, and educating oneself to identify fake religious leaders and doctrines.
At the end of the meeting the Field Officer for the initiative, Onuche Ocheja commended the Dutsen Kura community for organizing the town hall meeting and encouraged attendees to become humanitarians rather than promoting religious or ethnic propaganda.
The community’s women leader, Mrs. Blessing, expressed gratitude for the initiative and pledged to share the message of peace in their respective places of worship and communities
President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria has significantly reduced its reliance on oil revenue as his administration pushes to diversify the economy and attract more investment into other sectors.
He said the government would continue to develop the petroleum industry but use its resources to support broader economic activity rather than depend on crude oil as the main driver of growth.
The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the fifth anniversary of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
“We have already reduced our dependence on oil revenue, and we intend to go further,” President Tinubu said.
He said the government’s diversification strategy was focused on agriculture, manufacturing, digital and creative industries, while the oil and gas sector would continue to provide energy, foreign exchange and revenue for the country.
The claim comes as the administration continues to pursue reforms aimed at increasing oil production, improving revenue remittances and attracting fresh investment into the petroleum sector.
In February, President Tinubu issued an executive order directing oil and gas revenues due to the Federation to be paid directly into the Federation Account.
The order also ended certain deductions previously retained by NNPC Limited, including a 30 per cent management fee on profit oil and profit gas.
Oil remains important to Nigeria’s finances
Despite the government’s push to reduce dependence on oil, petroleum remains an important source of public revenue and foreign exchange.
The sector has, however, faced challenges including fluctuations in crude production and oil prices, as well as security and operational problems.
PREMIUM TIMES reported in March that oil and gas revenue remittances had fallen significantly below projections in the first two months of 2026. While N937.10 billion was budgeted as oil and gas revenue for the period, actual remittances stood at N137.41 billion.
President Tinubu said improved security and cooperation among oil producers, host communities, security agencies and the NUPRC had helped stabilise production.
He said the government’s efforts had also helped attract investors who previously left Nigeria, adding that the country had ranked first among Africa’s leading destinations for upstream investment for two consecutive years.
Push for more oil and gas investment
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Oil, Heineken Lokpobiri, said Nigeria currently produces about 1.7 million barrels of crude oil per day and has more than 37 billion barrels of oil reserves.
Mr Lokpobiri said more investment, additional licensing rounds and increased exploration were needed to unlock the country’s petroleum resources.
The NUPRC has also reported increased investment activity in the upstream sector.
In August, the regulator said it had approved more than $57 billion in Field Development Plans since 2024, with 22 major offshore projects expected to come on stream between 2026 and 2030. The projects are estimated to attract between $30 billion and $50 billion in investment.
Nigeria’s oil and condensate reserves stood at 37.01 billion barrels as of January 2026, while gas reserves increased to 215.19 trillion cubic feet, according to NUPRC data.
Tinubu declares decade of gas
President Tinubu said gas would be central to the government’s energy strategy, describing the period ahead as a decade of gas.
“With the largest gas reserves in Africa, we will expand gas supply for power, industry and clean cooking, reduce flaring and methane emissions, and grow renewable energy alongside it,” he said.
READ ALSO: PBAT Door-to-Door Movement mourns officers in crash, suspends campaign activities
He added that the government would pursue an energy transition suited to Nigeria’s circumstances, arguing that the country should meet its climate commitments without compromising energy access and economic development.
He also noted that a stronger upstream industry could create jobs for Nigerian engineers, fabricators and oilfield service companies.
President Tinubu said the Petroleum Industry Act had provided a foundation for reforms in the sector but noted that legislation alone could not guarantee investment.
According to him, investors had raised concerns about high costs, lengthy contracting processes and uncertainty around fiscal terms for complex projects.
He urged the NUPRC to maintain clear regulatory processes, provide reliable timelines and work with other government agencies to reduce overlapping requirements.
The President also said operators benefiting from government incentives must meet their obligations on work programmes, local content, environmental protection and host communities.
He urged the commission to remain independent and accountable in its regulatory decisions.
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