UK lawmakers demand security guarantees for Christians in Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: Bola Tinubu/Facebook

On March 31, 2026, more than 200 British parliamentarians demanded that the development of relations with Nigeria be tied to ensuring security and freedom of religion for Christians, Christian Daily reports.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom – the first such visit in nearly 40 years – which has been presented as “the beginning of a renewed phase in diplomatic, economic and cultural relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” highlighting efforts to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.

In a joint letter, MPs and members of the House of Lords urged the government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to make the protection of Christians a mandatory condition of future agreements. The head of the parliamentary group on freedom of religion, Jim Shannon, stated that Nigeria must take “concrete steps to prevent the harassment, persecution and killing of Christians, while ensuring that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted.”

Lawmakers emphasized that human rights must become “fundamental to all future diplomatic, security and trade discussions” between the two countries. Christian organizations supported these demands, stating that Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous places for Christians.

At the same time, Nigerian authorities view the situation as part of a broader security crisis linked to terrorism, banditry, and intercommunal conflicts affecting both Christians and Muslims.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that authorities in Pakistan had ordered 25,000 Christians to urgently leave their homes.

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