President Bola Tinubu remains focused on strengthening national security and promoting unity across the country despite growing international scrutiny, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said on Tuesday.

Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Idris said the discussion was part of his regular consultations with Tinubu and included recent remarks from the United States.

“It’s a routine meeting that we always have with Mr. President as Minister of Information. I need to consult with Mr. President from time to time, and of course, the issue of the US also came up, and we discussed that extensively,”  he said.

According to the minister, Tinubu is “calm and looking at the whole situation,” while ensuring that the international community understands Nigeria’s efforts to maintain peace and security.

“Only last week or two weeks ago, Mr. President, in his desire to rekindle the security architecture of the country, appointed a new Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs. That tells you that Mr. President has been working seriously to ensure that Nigeria remains safe for all Nigerians,” he said.

Idris explained that the government is keeping its communication measured while expanding diplomatic channels to clarify Nigeria’s position to its partners.

“We are opening channels of communication so that the international community will understand what Nigeria has been doing and what we intend to do further to address any domestic or international concerns,” he noted.

On calls for broader engagement with religious and community leaders, the minister said Tinubu had already adopted a multi-pronged approach.

“Discussions with the leadership of religious groups are ongoing. Mr. President has been meeting with them and will continue to do so. They are important stakeholders in the Nigerian project,” Idris said.

He added that Tinubu would also continue working with regional and continental partners to counter “false narratives” about the country’s religious environment.

“For us to be characterised as a country that is not tolerant when it comes to religion is absolutely false. Nigeria has Muslims, Christians, and even those who do not believe in any faith, and our constitution guarantees that everyone should practice their faith without hindrance. Mr. President will respect that to the letter,” he said.

The minister blamed extremist elements for pushing divisive messages intended to portray Nigeria negatively, urging citizens to remain united.

“Yes, we have security challenges, but nowhere has there been any decision to favour one religion over another or to inflict violence in the name of religion. This is a time for us to reflect on our unity and come together. It’s not a time for division, rhetoric, or politics, but a time for nation-building,” he said.

Idris reaffirmed that Tinubu is “taking the situation very seriously” and has directed relevant agencies to address the issues with “all the responsibility and depth they require.”

“At the end of the day, we believe that we will come out of this stronger,” he said.