NIGERIA AS A SECULAR STATE: ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF ISLAMIC LAW ON MUSLIMS IN NIGERIA

The debate over whether Nigeria is a secular state haspersisted for a long time. This debate is often grounded inthe assumption that Nigeria, influenced by its colonialmasters and other Western jurisdictions that explicitlydeclare their secularism in their constitutions, should alsobe secular. While this declaration suits the culturalcomposition of these Western countries, Nigeria's culturaland religious composition is complex and dynamic. Thiscomplexity creates a challenging environment fordeclaring Nigeria a secular state. The recognition andintegration of Islamic Law (Shar’ia) within the countryfurther complicate this issue, as Shari’ah lawfundamentally opposes secularism. Therefore, the doctrinalmethodology was employed in this paper to examineNigeria's laws and other relevant literature to determine thenation's stance on secularism. The paper concludes thatbased on constitutional evidence and prevailing practices,Nigeria is not a secular state but a multi-religious one,where no single religion holds supremacy over the others. 

File: 6 Unimaidjicol_Vol9_No1__June2024_77-94

Abstract
Reviews

The debate over whether Nigeria is a secular state has
persisted for a long time. This debate is often grounded in
the assumption that Nigeria, influenced by its colonial
masters and other Western jurisdictions that explicitly
declare their secularism in their constitutions, should also
be secular. While this declaration suits the cultural
composition of these Western countries, Nigeria's cultural
and religious composition is complex and dynamic. This
complexity creates a challenging environment for
declaring Nigeria a secular state. The recognition and
integration of Islamic Law (Shar’ia) within the country
further complicate this issue, as Shari’ah law
fundamentally opposes secularism. Therefore, the doctrinal
methodology was employed in this paper to examine
Nigeria's laws and other relevant literature to determine the
nation's stance on secularism. The paper concludes that
based on constitutional evidence and prevailing practices,
Nigeria is not a secular state but a multi-religious one,
where no single religion holds supremacy over the others.

There are no reviews for this Journal.

0 out of 5 (0 User reviews )

Add a Review

Your Rating *

Name*

Your Review*

TSANGAYA SYSTEM OF EDUCATION: AN EXPLORATION OF ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CONTEMPORARY PRACTICES FOR FUTURE PROSPECTS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Author(s): Atiku Said Haliru•Hafsat Muhammad Ali

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPs) IN NIGERIA

Author(s): Mohammed Amin Umar•Garba Umaru Kwagyang

AN EXAMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF A NON-MUSLIM IN ISLAMIC ORGANISATION

Author(s): KAMALDEEN OLAITAN SALMAN

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY OF THE NAIRA REDESIGN POLICY: THE ISLAMIC LAW PERSPECTIVE

Author(s): Mohd Jamiu Ayinla-Edun

COMPARATIVE CRITIQUE ON THE PROHIBITION OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION IN NIGERIAN

Author(s): Mohammed Aliyu BabakanoMohammed Amin UmarAishatu Kyari Sandabe

AN ANALYSIS OF PEACE, VIOLENCE AND ARMED CONFLICT UNDER ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE

Author(s): Ahmad Jibrin Suleiman

THE POWERS OF STATE GOVERNORS UNDER THE LAND USE ACT: A REVIEW OF SOME SELECTED DECISIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA

Author(s): Isa Yusuf

TAXATION OF ISLAMIC FINANCE IN NIGERIA: THE INTEGRATION OF ISLAMIC TAX SYSTEM AND THE CHALLENGE OF ROBUST FRAMEWORK

Author(s): Mohammed Bashir Tanko, Prof. K. A. Olatoye, Prof. M. T. Abdulrazaq, SAN

THE EVOLUTION OF USUL FIQH: AN EXAMINATION OF ITS ROLE IN CLOSING THE DOORS OF IJTIHAD

Author(s): Zakiyya Haruna, , Usman Ibrahim Abubakar

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SHARI’AH AND ITS INFLUENCE ON MODERN LEGAL SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Author(s): Ibrahim Muhammad Ahmad•Mohammed Babakano AliyuAishatu Kyari Sandabe

About the Journal

About

Editorial Team

Curent issues

Archive

DOWNLOADABLES

Guide for contributors

Authors Response Form

Manuscript review Form

Make a Submission

__________________