President Bola Tinubu has headed for Rome, Italy, to honour an invitation from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV.
During the visit, Tinubu will attend a solemn mass marking the start of the new Pope’s pontificate. According to a statement released by the President’s Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President will be accompanied by top Catholic leaders.
Meanwhile, new data released by the presidency reveals that 62 percent of President Tinubu’s appointments are Christians. This figure challenges early concerns that the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket from the 2023 elections would marginalize Christian representation in government and fuel fears of an “Islamisation” agenda.
The revelation may help shift perceptions regarding religious inclusion in the administration and contribute to easing the image of Nigeria as a nation where Christians face systemic persecution.
Internationally, Nigeria has come under scrutiny for its record on religious freedom. In March 2025, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that Nigeria be listed as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing worsening conditions. Similarly, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa recently approved measures urging then-President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria for the alleged widespread persecution of Christians.
Against this backdrop, the high Christian representation in Tinubu’s administration may serve to counter negative narratives and improve Nigeria’s standing on religious freedom indicators.
