Nigeria As a Secular State: Analysis of the Impact of Islamic Law on Muslims in Nigeria

Abstract

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.