Sharia Law: Federal Govt rejects US calls for constructional changes in Nigeria
Sharia Law: Federal Govt Rejects US calls for constructional changes in Nigeria
Presidential Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has rejected calls from some United States lawmakers for Nigeria to abolish Sharia law, insisting that the US has no legal or moral authority to dictate constitutional changes in a sovereign nation.
In an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Bwala warned that any attempt by a foreign power to direct Nigeria on constitutional issues would be an infringement on the country’s sovereignty.
“They don’t have the locus,” he said when asked if the US government could push Nigeria to disband Sharia law in northern states or amend its constitution.
“In doing that, it’ll amount to infringing on the territorial integrity and territorial right of a country,” Bwala added.
The Presidential aide also criticized former President Donald Trump’s recent threat of possible military intervention, calling it inconsistent with international norms and the US convention.
“Even the threat of possible military invasion is not consistent with the US convention, because there are only three conditions upon which another country can invade militarily. Either you invited by that country, or you are at war with that country, or the United Nations asks you to be in that country,” he explained.
Bwala further emphasised that Sharia law, which operates in 12 northern states, is a state-level legal framework rather than a federal policy, allowed under Nigeria’s federal system.
“Sharia law is not a national law. We also practice federal system of government, although their own is more advanced,” he stated.
The remarks come after a joint congressional briefing on Tuesday, where US lawmakers were encouraged to pressure Nigeria to abolish Sharia law and disband the Hisbah religious police. Experts argued that extremist groups exploit these structures to persecute Christians.
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told lawmakers that Boko Haram, ISWAP, and radicalized militia groups “weaponise Sharia-based institutions and Hisbah operatives to advance extremist ideology, enforce forced conversions, and operate unchecked in many communities.”
Bwala, however, maintained that Nigeria’s constitution is not subject to foreign influence.
“We differ with them on this idea of amending our constitution. Nigeria is a sovereign state, has never been colonized by America anywhere and we are not Venezuela,” he stated.
