Muslim Group Raises Alarm Over Alleged Move to Scrap NBAIS, Calls for Nationwide Opposition

 

Abuja, June 16, 2026 — The Muslims Enlightenment Network (MEN) has called on Muslim organizations, scholars, student bodies and community leaders across Nigeria to oppose what it described as an attempt to abolish the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), warning that such a move could have far-reaching consequences for millions of students.

In a statement issued on the first day of Muharram 1448 AH, the group expressed concern over discussions in the Senate regarding the future of NBAIS, an institution responsible for administering Arabic and Islamic studies examinations and certification in Nigeria.

According to MEN, the issue came up during Senate deliberations, where Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, reportedly defended the continued existence of NBAIS, noting that the board has operated for more than six decades and serves millions of students nationwide.

The group argued that scrapping NBAIS would effectively end the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination (SAISSCE), thereby denying students access to a federally recognized qualification in Arabic and Islamic studies.

MEN described the development as particularly concerning under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that many Muslims had expected stronger support for institutions associated with Islamic education.

The organization also referenced a petition reportedly submitted in May 2025 by a Christian advocacy group known as the National Prayer Altar. According to MEN, the petition urged the Federal Government to withdraw the equivalence status granted to NBAIS certificates alongside those issued by WAEC and NECO, arguing that such recognition contradicted Nigeria's secular status.

The group claimed that recent discussions in the Senate suggest that the concerns raised in the petition may be gaining traction within government circles.

MEN therefore called on major Muslim organizations, including the Nigerian Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS), the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), to urgently issue a joint statement rejecting any move to weaken or abolish NBAIS.

The organization also urged Muslim senators, political appointees and public office holders to publicly declare their positions on the matter and engage relevant government institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

In addition, MEN called for engagement with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, whom it alleged was linked to a memorandum forwarded to the Senate on the issue.

The group commended Senator Kawu Sumaila for speaking in defence of NBAIS during the Senate deliberations and urged other leaders to follow suit.

"NBAIS is not a favour. It is a right for millions of Nigerian Muslim students. If we do not defend it, no one will," the statement concluded.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Senate leadership nor the Federal Government had issued an official statement confirming any decision to abolish NBAIS. The board remains operational and continues to conduct examinations and certify students in Arabic and Islamic studies across the country.