The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has urged the Federal Government to urgently reform the nation’s security architecture and reduce the rising cost of food and transportation to ease the hardship faced by Nigerians.
The council also backed decentralised policing, but said any such reform must be guided by professionalism, constitutional safeguards, accountability, sustainable funding and respect for fundamental human rights.
These were among the resolutions contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the NSCIA General Assembly held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Abuja National Mosque.
The assembly, presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, brought together Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, leaders of major Islamic organisations and delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
On national security, the council said insecurity affected Nigerians irrespective of religious affiliation, rejecting claims of genocide against Christians or any other religious community in Nigeria.
The NSCIA, however, called for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s security system, saying decentralised policing could be considered if supported by adequate safeguards and effective coordination between federal and state security institutions.
The council also urged the Federal Government to intensify measures aimed at reducing the cost of food and transportation, which it said had placed additional pressure on ordinary Nigerians.
On religious rights, the NSCIA called on government agencies to respect the right of Muslim women and girls to wear the hijab, including female students, NYSC members, security personnel and Muslim women in other workplaces.
It also called on the Rivers State Government and the management of Rivers State University to implement without further delay the Supreme Court judgment concerning the construction of a mosque for Muslim students on the university campus.
The council criticised the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos over what it described as their resistance to a Supreme Court judgment favouring the use of hijab in their international schools.
It urged the institutions to comply with the judgment and adopt inclusive practices.
The assembly also raised concerns about the inclusion of Muslims with physical disabilities, resolving that they should be adequately supported and carried along in the activities of the council.
On education, the NSCIA urged Muslim leaders to prioritise quality education that combines Islamic knowledge with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
It also called on parents and community leaders to pay greater attention to the moral development of young people amid what it described as increasing exposure to adverse foreign influences.
The council further urged Muslims to contribute to nation-building by demonstrating good character in their workplaces and communities.
It tasked them with obtaining their National Identification Numbers and Permanent Voter Cards and participating fully in the process of selecting leaders at all levels.
The NSCIA also encouraged Muslim organisations to pursue economic independence through lawful investments, cooperation and effective administration of Zakat and Waqf to support sustainable poverty reduction.
On Hajj, the council adopted the 2026 report of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and endorsed its recommendations for repositioning the Hajj industry.
It commended NAHCON and the Abuja National Mosque Management Board for their initiatives and honoured the NSCIA 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.
The assembly also recognised Maryam Ibrahim Dan-Azumi for winning the female category of the King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and recommended her for national recognition.
The General Assembly, held under the theme, “Nigerian Muslims and the Imperative of Nation-building,” also approved the renewal and expansion of the council’s National Executive Committee.