As Sultan of Sokoto, he is the head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), which is the umbrella body for all Muslim organizations in the country and is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s 108 million Muslims, who account for roughly 50% of the nation’s population. Although the position of Sultan of Sokoto has become largely ceremonial, the holder is still a central figure for Nigerian Muslims. He gains this position by lineage. Abubakar is the 20th heir to the two-century-old throne founded by his ancestor, Sheikh Us­man Dan Fodio. The Sultan has started many initiatives to counter and reduce the influence of Boko Haram. He has also worked to strengthen Muslim-Christian ties by inviting an international joint Muslim Christian Delegation to visit Nigeria. In 2019, he was appointed Co-Moderator of the Council of Religion for Peace (CRP).