A coalition of Muslim women’s organisations has issued a firm renewed appeal to the government and various public institutions to end all forms of discrimination against hijab-wearing women across the country.
Speaking at a press briefing to commemorate World Hijab Day 2026 at the Lagos State Secretariat Community Central Mosque, the coalition, operating under the themes “Unity in Hijab” and “One Sisterhood,” emphasized that the headscarf is a divine command and a symbol of dignity rather than a basis for social exclusion.
According to PUNCH, Executive Director of the Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, lamented that despite the constitutional protections afforded by Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution and affirming Supreme Court rulings, Muslim women continue to face systemic harassment and the denial of rights within schools, workplaces, and public institutions.
The coalition raised significant concerns regarding the “double vulnerability” faced by Igbo Muslim women in the South-East who are targeted for both their faith and ethnicity, calling on law enforcement to act decisively against rising hate speech.
Furthermore, representatives highlighted ongoing administrative hurdles, such as unlawful demands at immigration points and driver’s licence centres for women to remove their hijabs or expose their ears for biometric capture, which contradicts both national regulations and international standards.
The briefing also addressed the need for greater inclusivity for women with disabilities, advocating for disability-friendly mosques and reasonable accommodations as a matter of right rather than privilege.
In a collective appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors, the advocates demanded the issuance of clear directives to train personnel and the establishment of robust complaint mechanisms to sanction those who violate the rights of Muslim students and professionals.
By urging educational institutions to cease discriminatory “tuck-in” rules and other methods used to conceal the hijab, the coalition underscored that 2026 must be the year Nigeria chooses constitutional fidelity over prejudice.
Ultimately, the group maintained that society is divided by discrimination rather than the hijab itself, calling for a unified national commitment to justice and religious freedom for all citizens. – PUNCH
