As Muslims across the globe marked the beginning of the new Islamic year Hijrah 1447 on Thursday, 26th June 2025, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed deep disappointment at the Federal Government’s failure to declare a national public holiday in commemoration of the occasion.
In a statement issued by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization noted that although several states across both the northern and southern regions of Nigeria recognized the significance of the day by declaring public holidays, the Federal Government chose not to follow suit.
“By refusing to declare the first day of Hijrah as a public holiday, the Federal Government missed a golden opportunity to align itself with the spiritual aspirations of millions of Nigerian Muslims. It failed to demonstrate inclusive governance and goodwill, and more importantly, failed to act in loco parentis as a parental figure guiding its constituent states,” the statement read.
Professor Akintola described the situation as paradoxical, particularly under a Muslim-Muslim leadership, and criticized the absence of federal coordination which left states to act independently and inconsistently. While some states, including Borno, Kano, Kwara, and Sokoto, observed the holiday on Thursday, others such as Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, and Zamfara marked it on Friday.
“This disparity clearly illustrates the lack of leadership from the center. Had the Federal Government made a unified declaration, the states would likely have aligned accordingly. Its silence contributed to the fragmentation of the observance.”
MURIC also drew attention to what it described as ongoing religious inequality in federal policy, stating that while holidays for Christian celebrations such as January 1st (New Year’s Day)—are recognized nationally, Islamic events of similar spiritual importance are often sidelined.
“It is unjust for the Federal Government to repeatedly recognize and celebrate holidays of one faith while ignoring those of another. This has continued even under administrations led by Muslim presidents, reinforcing what we term the paradox of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
The organization acknowledged and commended the efforts of states that declared the holiday, especially Osun and Oyo, for recognizing the importance of Hijrah despite being in the South. Conversely, it criticized states like Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo for failing to do the same, and specifically condemned Ogun State’s alleged refusal to allow a Muslim youth group, NACOMYO, access to the state stadium for its Hijrah program.
MURIC also highlighted the efforts of advocacy groups such as the Muslim Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MMPA), which called on the Federal Government to recognize Hijrah day “in the interest of fairness and justice” for millions of Nigerian Muslims.
Despite the setback, MURIC urged Muslims across the country to remain peaceful, patient, and committed to non-violent advocacy, in line with the organization’s motto: Dialogue, Not Violence.
“We call on Nigerian Muslims to remain dignified and law-abiding as we continue to engage constructively. The demand for national recognition of Hijrah day is not going away. Aluta continua, victoria ascerta. No retreat, no surrender.”
