The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has dismissed calls from some U.S. lawmakers to abolish Sharia law in the country, calling the proposal misinformed and an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Sharia law in Nigeria operates alongside statutory and customary law and is primarily implemented in 12 northern states. It was formally adopted in 1999 as a core system of civil and criminal law for Muslim communities, providing a religious, moral, and legal framework for adherents of Islam.
In a statement, SCSN Secretary General Nafiu Ahmad emphasized that Sharia represents a comprehensive way of life for Muslims and cannot be abandoned due to external pressure. “No power or authority can arrogantly make Muslims relinquish its practice in response to external pressure, misinformation, or political intimidation,” the council said.
The council also highlighted that Sharia practice in Nigeria is constitutionally protected, pointing to provisions that guarantee freedom of religion and allow individuals to manage personal and family matters according to their faith.
Addressing allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, the SCSN dismissed such claims as a misrepresentation of the country’s broader security challenges. The council noted that terrorism, banditry, organized crime, and governance issues affect both Muslims and Christians. “The government appears either indifferent or incapable of resolving the security problem which has claimed the lives of Muslims and Christians alike,” the statement said, warning that framing the violence solely as religious persecution is “inaccurate and unhelpful.”
Concluding, the council urged respect for Nigeria’s plural legal system and multi-religious character, warning that external interference in Sharia practice would be both unwarranted and counterproductive.