The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture and backed decentralised policing, saying insecurity should not be viewed through a religious lens.
The council made the call in a communiqué issued after its General Assembly held at the Abuja National Mosque on October 1, while rejecting claims that Christians or any other religious group was facing genocide in Nigeria.
The assembly was presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto and NSCIA President-General, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and attended by Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, Chief Imams and representatives of Muslim organisations across the country.
The council said insecurity affected Nigerians regardless of their faith and urged the Federal Government to reform the security system to make it more effective.
It supported decentralised policing but said any such arrangement must be built around professionalism, constitutional safeguards, impartiality, accountability, sustainable funding and respect for fundamental rights.
The NSCIA also stressed the need for effective coordination between federal and state security institutions, saying security reforms must not compromise citizens’ rights.
Beyond security, the council urged the government to accelerate measures to reduce the cost of food and transportation, citing the economic pressure on ordinary Nigerians.
“The Federal Government should expedite action on drastically reducing the cost of transportation and food to alleviate the hardship being faced by ordinary Nigerians,” it said.
On religious rights, the council said Islam had existed in Igboland for generations and condemned attempts to portray Muslims in the South-East as non-indigenous.
It also urged the Rivers State Government and management of Rivers State University to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the construction of a mosque for Muslim students at the institution.
The council called on government agencies to respect the right of Muslim women, including female students, National Youth Service Corps members and security personnel, to wear hijab.
It also criticised the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos over what it described as resistance to Supreme Court judgments on hijab in their international schools, urging the institutions to comply with the law.
The NSCIA further urged Muslims to obtain their National Identification Numbers and Permanent Voter Cards and participate in choosing leaders at all levels.
It encouraged Muslim organisations to strengthen lawful investments and the administration of Zakat and Waqf as measures to help reduce poverty.
The assembly also approved an expanded National Executive Committee, with Prof. Mahfouz A. Adedimeji, Prof. Salisu Shehu and Abeni Obomeileh Mohammed, SAN, appointed as deputy secretaries-general for national affairs, international affairs and corporate affairs respectively.
The council also adopted the 2026 report of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and endorsed recommendations for repositioning the Hajj industry.
It honoured its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for his contributions to education and nation-building during his tenure as Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
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