Parliament Watch360
9th October, 2025
The Senate, at plenary, deliberated on a motion titled “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and in the International Community.”
The motion, which received wide bipartisan support, sought to address the dangerous misinformation and distorted narratives being circulated across global media platforms, portraying Nigeria as a country engaged in systemic religious persecution or genocide.
Senators noted that while Nigeria has indeed faced incidents of violent conflict involving communities of different faiths and ethnicities, such occurrences are largely driven by a mix of factors; including terrorism, banditry, and local grievances; and should not be simplistically framed as a “Christian genocide.”
The motion emphasized that such mischaracterizations have severe diplomatic, economic, and interreligious implications, threatening Nigeria’s global reputation and internal cohesion.
In his contribution of the motion, Senator Osita Izunaso, OFR, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, expressed unequivocal support for the motion, commending its intent to promote truth, peace, and national unity.
He emphasized that religious violence, in any form or direction, must be condemned; not only in Nigeria but across Africa and the world. He stressed that violence has no faith, and no religion preaches hate or division. According to Senator Izunaso, what Nigeria and the continent urgently need is a renaissance of responsible communication, interfaith trust, and strong institutional accountability to ensure that isolated acts of violence are not manipulated to sow widespread discord.
He further warned that foreign interests often exploit divisive narratives for geopolitical advantage, calling for a proactive and transparent communication strategy from the Nigerian government and media to correct falsehoods before they harden into global perceptions.
Senator Izunaso concluded by reaffirming the Senate’s devotion to peacebuilding, justice, and inclusion; reminding Nigerians that unity in diversity remains the foundation of the nation’s democratic stability and progress.
The Senate, after extensive deliberations, adopted the following prayers:
- Urge the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant security agencies, and other stakeholders, to enhance transparent and data-driven public communication, providing verified casualty figures and accurate context to counter misinformation and prevent the spread of disinformation on Nigeria’s security challenges;
- Call on religious leaders, civil society organisations, and the Nigerian and foreign media to communicate responsibly, avoiding inflammatory or sectarian language that could deepen divisions. Instead, they are to promote dialogue, unity, and mutual trust among adherents of all faiths; and
- Urge the Federal Government to ensure justice and accountability for all victims of violent attacks; irrespective of religion or ethnicity; as a means of addressing impunity, promoting reconciliation, and strengthening public confidence in state institutions.
The Nigerian Senate, through this motion and the interventions of patriotic legislators such as Senators Ali Ndume and Osita Izunaso, restated her commitment to the principles of religious tolerance, national unity, and global peacebuilding.
This motion emphasised the need for responsible communication, balanced narratives, and institutional transparency in addressing Nigeria’s complex security realities. Parliament Watch360 commends the Senate for its leadership in correcting misinformation, upholding truth, and promoting a legislative culture that defends the integrity of the Nigerian state before the global community.
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📅 Date: October 9th, 2025
Number: 08153652564
REPORT ON THE SENATE MOTION: “URGENT NEED TO CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING THE PURPORTED ‘CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE’ NARRATIVE IN NIGERIA AND IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY”
Sponsored by Senator Ndume, Mohammed Ali and Co-Sponsored by Senator Osita Izunaso and others