The Senior Special Assistant on Cybercrime to the Kogi State Governor, Promise Emmanuel, has called for greater religious tolerance following a viral video involving Muslims praying on a roadside.
Emmanuel made the appeal after footage circulated online showing a woman confronting a group of Muslim worshippers who were observing Friday prayers on a road. The incident has sparked discussion about religious practices, public spaces and the need for peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims.
In a Facebook post, the Kogi governor’s aide acknowledged that blocking a road for prayers was wrong. However, he argued that the situation could also be linked to the large number of people attending Friday prayers and limited space available for worship.
Kogi aide addresses roadside prayer controversy
Emmanuel said Nigerians should consider the circumstances surrounding religious activities before condemning members of another faith.
He explained that large numbers of Muslims gather for Friday prayers, which can create challenges when available worship spaces cannot accommodate everyone. He nevertheless maintained that using a road for prayers was not appropriate.
The aide’s comments came as the video continued to generate reactions online. The footage showed prayer mats placed on a section of the road, with a woman appearing to confront one of the worshippers before another person intervened.
The identities of the woman and the worshippers involved were not disclosed in the report. It was also not stated where the incident occurred or whether authorities took any action following the confrontation.
The controversy comes at a time when religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence remain subjects of public discussion across Nigeria. Recent calls for peaceful conduct have also featured in other public affairs, including Governor Ododo’s call for political actors in Kogi to shun violence and embrace peace.
Emmanuel compares religious practices
While discussing the roadside prayers, Emmanuel also referred to some Christian evangelism practices that he said could inconvenience other members of the public.
He mentioned situations where Christians preach at people’s homes without prior invitation. He also cited preaching inside commercial buses and the use of loudspeakers in public places.
According to him, such activities can also cause discomfort to people who may not want to participate in religious preaching at that particular time. He therefore argued that tolerance should apply to both Christians and Muslims.
Emmanuel said people should recognise that religious differences exist within Nigerian society. He called for greater understanding rather than allowing disagreements over religious practices to become sources of hostility.
His position was that people from different faiths should accommodate one another while also recognising situations where religious activities may affect other members of the public.
The debate also touches on the wider relationship between religion and public life in Nigeria. Earlier this month, Dino Melaye criticised government funding of religious activities and argued that religion should remain a personal matter.
Religious tolerance should involve both sides
Emmanuel said religious tolerance should not be applied selectively.
He argued that Christians and Muslims should be willing to recognise practices within their own communities that could inconvenience others. His comments were presented as an appeal for mutual understanding rather than an argument in favour of blocking roads for prayers.
The aide described the use of roads for Friday prayers as wrong but suggested that the underlying issue could involve inadequate space for worshippers. He pointed to the large number of people who attend Friday prayers as one possible reason some worshippers may end up using public roads.
The issue therefore involves two separate concerns: the right of people to practise their religion and the need for public spaces, including roads, to remain accessible to everyone.
Similar questions can arise when religious activities involve loudspeakers, large gatherings or temporary use of public spaces. The balance between religious expression and public convenience can become particularly sensitive when activities affect traffic, businesses or residents.
Kogi has also recently been discussing traffic management as authorities prepare for the Ember Months. The state’s road safety authorities have announced measures aimed at managing congestion and improving road safety during the period.
Viral video triggers online debate
The viral video became the immediate context for Emmanuel’s comments.
In the footage, Muslims could be seen praying on a road with prayer mats spread across the area. A woman appeared to challenge one of the worshippers, while another person intervened during the exchange.
The available report did not establish what led to the confrontation before the recording began. It also did not provide information about any earlier disagreement between the woman and the worshippers.
As the footage circulated online, reactions focused on whether the worshippers should have been praying on the road and how the woman handled the situation. Emmanuel used the controversy to raise a broader question about how Nigerians respond to religious practices they find uncomfortable.
He urged people to recognise that Nigeria is religiously diverse and that peaceful coexistence requires some level of accommodation.
Religious differences have also featured in public discussions surrounding governance and community relations. In Kogi, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo recently urged political actors and their supporters to avoid hate speech and intimidation as political activities increase ahead of the 2027 elections.
A call for mutual understanding
Emmanuel said Christians and Muslims should recognise that they live within the same society and therefore have a responsibility to coexist peacefully.
He argued that both religious communities can sometimes engage in practices that others may find disruptive. His examples included uninvited preaching in homes, evangelism inside buses and the use of loudspeakers in public areas.
The aide’s argument was that criticism of one religious group should also be accompanied by self-reflection within the other. He suggested that Nigerians should avoid applying different standards to similar situations based on religious identity.
His remarks have therefore shifted the discussion from the specific roadside prayer incident to the broader issue of mutual religious tolerance.
The call comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s religious diversity, where Christians and Muslims live alongside followers of traditional religions and people who do not identify with any faith. Managing differences peacefully remains important when religious practices intersect with shared public spaces.
In another recent Kogi development involving religion, Governor Ododo was reported to have attended an Apostolic Church convention where he called for prayers for peace, unity and the development of the state.
Public spaces remain part of the debate
The controversy also raises questions about how large religious gatherings can be accommodated without disrupting public activities.
Roads are primarily used for movement, meaning gatherings that occupy them can affect motorists, pedestrians and nearby businesses. At the same time, religious groups may require adequate spaces to accommodate large congregations, particularly during major worship periods.
Emmanuel’s comments suggested that these competing interests should be handled with tolerance and understanding.
His position does not remove the concern about road access. Instead, he acknowledged that blocking roads for prayers was wrong while asking people to consider why some worshippers may resort to public spaces.
A practical response could involve religious leaders, community representatives and relevant authorities discussing arrangements for large gatherings. Such discussions could help reduce situations where worshippers and other members of the public come into direct confrontation.
Similar tensions can occur when public spaces are used for activities that affect movement. The recent debate over transportation costs and the need to reduce pressure on commuters has also highlighted the importance of keeping public transport routes functional. Tinubu Says Nigerians Will See Lower Transport Fares From October 1
Religious differences should not fuel conflict
Emmanuel further argued that Christians and Muslims in Nigeria share similarities despite their different religious beliefs.
He said people should not allow religious differences to erase their shared humanity. He described tolerance as necessary because society is made up of people with different beliefs, practices and backgrounds.
The aide’s comments were not presented as support for any particular religious practice. Instead, he acknowledged the road-blocking issue while urging both communities to show understanding when dealing with one another.
His comments followed the circulation of the video and were made in response to the online debate surrounding the incident. The available report did not indicate that the state government had issued a separate directive on the controversy.
Religious disagreements can sometimes become politically or socially sensitive, especially when they involve public officials or government representatives. This makes careful communication important when discussing incidents involving different faith communities.
Recent Nigerian public debates have similarly involved calls for restraint and peaceful engagement. For instance, OK Movement Demands Apology From NDC and Insists on Independence involved a separate dispute over political statements and organisational independence.
What Emmanuel wants Nigerians to consider
At the centre of Emmanuel’s message was the idea that tolerance should work in both directions.
He argued that people should be able to identify practices within their own religious communities that may inconvenience others. According to him, this should encourage greater understanding when similar issues arise between Christians and Muslims.
The aide’s comments also suggest that religious disagreements should not automatically become confrontations. Where a practice creates inconvenience, dialogue may offer an alternative to public arguments.
The viral roadside prayer incident has therefore opened a wider conversation about religious freedom, public space and social responsibility. While people retain their religious beliefs, public activities can also affect people who do not participate in those practices.
Finding a balance between these interests remains an issue for communities and relevant authorities.
Nigeria has also experienced other public debates where questions of religion, community interests and governance overlap. In one recent development, Remi Tinubu urged Nigerians to re-elect her husband and spoke about her hopes for the country’s future.
Calls for peaceful coexistence
Emmanuel ultimately urged Nigerians to tolerate one another despite differences in religious beliefs.
His comments followed a specific incident involving Muslim worshippers praying on a road, but he expanded the discussion to include practices associated with both Christianity and Islam.
The Kogi aide said some discomfort may occur when people with different beliefs live together. However, he argued that tolerance can help prevent such differences from escalating into conflict.
The incident also highlights the importance of finding suitable spaces for large religious gatherings. Where worshippers have access to adequate facilities, situations involving the use of roads and other shared public areas may be reduced.
For communities, religious leaders and authorities, the challenge is to protect freedom of worship while also considering the rights of other members of the public.
The issue of public order has featured in several recent Nigerian stories. The Enugu Govt Denies Tax Protest and Says Transport Operators Sought Parking Space is another example of a dispute involving public movement and competing interests.
Emmanuel’s message after the viral footage
The Kogi governor’s aide said Nigerians should recognise their shared humanity despite religious differences.
He maintained that tolerance is necessary in a diverse society and suggested that Christians and Muslims should apply the same standard of understanding when dealing with practices they find uncomfortable.
The roadside prayer controversy remains centred on the viral footage, which showed a woman confronting Muslims during Friday prayers. However, Emmanuel used the incident to make a broader appeal for mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
The available report does not indicate whether the worshippers were authorised to use the road or whether authorities had previously attempted to address the issue.
For now, the controversy has renewed discussion about how religious gatherings should coexist with public activities. Emmanuel’s intervention has placed religious tolerance at the centre of that conversation, while also acknowledging that activities affecting public roads can create legitimate concerns.
As Nigerians continue to live and work across religious and cultural lines, the debate highlights the need for peaceful ways of resolving disagreements when religious practices overlap with shared public spaces.
