The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the country’s security architecture and reduce the rising cost of food and transportation.

The council made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its General Assembly in Abuja and signed by its President-General, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.

The NSCIA said the persistent challenges of insecurity and rising living costs required faster and more effective government intervention, while acknowledging ongoing efforts to strengthen the economy.

It called for comprehensive reform of the security architecture and expressed support for decentralised policing, stressing that such a system must be based on professionalism, constitutional safeguards, impartiality and accountability.

The council also said decentralised policing required sustainable funding, respect for fundamental human rights and effective coordination between federal and state security institutions.

On the rising cost of living, the NSCIA urged the Federal Government to accelerate measures aimed at reducing the cost of transportation and food, saying the burden was placing additional pressure on ordinary Nigerians.

The council also called on government agencies to respect the rights of Muslim female students, female National Youth Service Corps members, female security personnel and other Muslim women to use the hijab in their places of education and work.

It criticised what it described as hostile positions by the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos towards Supreme Court judgments concerning the use of hijab in their international schools.

The council urged the institutions to comply with the law and also called on the Rivers State Government and the management of Rivers State University to implement a Supreme Court judgment concerning a mosque sought by Muslim students on the university campus.

The assembly further urged Muslims to contribute more actively to national development, obtain their National Identification Numbers and Permanent Voter Cards, and participate in elections at all levels.

It advocated greater emphasis on quality education combining Islamic knowledge with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, while encouraging Muslim organisations to strengthen economic independence through lawful investments, Zakat and Waqf.

The assembly also adopted the 2026 report of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and endorsed its recommendations for repositioning the Hajj industry.

It approved an expanded National Executive Committee, including Prof. Mahfouz A. Adedimeji as Deputy Secretary-General, National Affairs; Prof. Salisu Shehu as Deputy Secretary-General, International Affairs; Abeni Obomeileh Mohammed, SAN, as Deputy Secretary-General, Corporate Affairs; and Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu as Public Relations Officer.