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WORLD RELIGION
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National / Regional Profiles

Included Nations/Regions: Nigeria [x], Western Africa [x], The World [x]


Religion and State (RAS) Indexes1

Religion Indexes (Nigeria)

State Funding of Religion
Summary categories: None (0/3), Low (1/3), Medium (2/3), High (3/3)

Ranking: 96/253
Societal Discrimination of Minority Religions
Summary categories: None (0/3), Low (1/3), Medium (2/3), High (3/3)

Ranking: 8/253
State Regulation of Majority or All Religions
Summary categories: None (0/3), Low (1/3), Medium (2/3), High (3/3)

Ranking: 60/253
State Discrimination of Minority Religions
Summary categories: None (0/3), Low (1/3), Medium (2/3), High (3/3)

Ranking: 50/253
For details on how these indexes were constructed, click here

Nigeria: Major World Religions (1900 - 2050) (World Religion Database, 2020)2

The following groups with less than 1% of the population were hidden from this graph: Baha'is, Buddhists, Chinese folk-religionists, Hindus, Jews, New religionists, Nonreligious.


Nigeria: Largest Religious Groups (1900 - 2050) (World Religion Database, 2020)2

The following groups with less than 1% of the population were hidden from this graph: Agnostics, Atheists, doubly-affiliated, Islamic schismatics, Mahayanists, Orthodox, Saktists, Shaivites, Shias, unaffiliated Christians, Vaishnavites.


Religious Adherents (World Religion Database 2020)2

Religion Nigeria
[x]
Western Africa
[x]
The World
[x]
Baha'is 0.02% 0.07% 0.11%
Buddhists 0.01% 0.01% 6.83%
--Mahayanists 0.01% 0.01% 4.89%
--Theravadins --- --- 1.72%
--Lamaists --- --- 0.23%
Chinese folk-religionists 0.00% 0.00% 5.98%
Christians 46.18% 36.43% 32.16%
--unaffiliated Christians 0.07% 1.11% 1.46%
--Orthodox 0.00% 0.01% 3.75%
--Catholics 12.39% 11.36% 15.90%
--Protestants 30.11% 19.86% 7.51%
--Independents 13.72% 9.58% 5.00%
Daoists --- --- 0.11%
Confucianists --- --- 0.11%
Ethnic religionists 7.63% 11.27% 3.65%
Hindus 0.02% 0.01% 13.58%
--Vaishnavites 0.01% 0.00% 5.15%
--Shaivites 0.01% 0.00% 4.86%
--Saktists 0.01% 0.00% 3.57%
Jains --- --- 0.08%
Jews 0.00% 0.00% 0.19%
Muslims 45.85% 51.89% 24.20%
--Sunnis 44.99% 50.90% 21.56%
--Shias 0.01% 0.01% 2.44%
--Islamic schismatics 0.85% 0.97% 0.21%
New religionists 0.01% 0.02% 0.85%
Shintoists --- --- 0.04%
Sikhs --- 0.00% 0.34%
Spiritists --- --- 0.19%
Zoroastrians --- --- 0.00%
Non-Religious 0.28% 0.31% 11.57%
--Agnostics 0.25% 0.29% 9.65%
--Atheists 0.03% 0.02% 1.92%

Religious demographics (Nigeria)3

The country has an area of 356,700 square miles and a population of 144 million. While some groups estimate the population to be 50 percent Muslim, 40 percent Christian, and 10 percent traditional indigenous, it is generally assumed that the proportion of citizens who practice Islam or Christianity are roughly equal and include a substantial number who practice traditional indigenous religious beliefs alongside Christianity or Islam. The predominant form of Islam is Sunni. Members of the Ahmadiyya Movement maintain a presence in Lagos and Abuja. The Christian population includes Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and a growing number of evangelical and Pentecostal Christians and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

The North, dominated by the Hausa-Fulani and Kanuri ethnic groups, is predominantly Muslim. However, significant Christian communities have resided and intermarried with Muslims in the North for more than 50 years. Both Muslims and Christians reside in large numbers in the Middle Belt, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In the southwest, where the Yoruba ethnic group predominates, Christians and Muslims reside in equal numbers. While most Yorubas practice either Christianity or Islam, the practice of traditional Yoruba religious beliefs continues. Southern ethnic groups are predominantly Christian. In the east, where the Igbo ethnic group is dominant, Catholics, Anglicans, and Methodists are the majority, although many Igbos continue to observe traditional rites and ceremonies in tandem with Christianity. In the oil-rich and restive Niger Delta region, where the Ogoni and Ijaw ethnic groups prevail, Christians are the majority, with 1 percent of the population adhering to Islam.

Summary Information

Nigeria
[x]
Western Africa
[x]
The World
[x]
Region Western Africa The World --
Total Population4 183,705,125 349,551,395 7,335,774,068
Area in square miles 356,669 2,372,101 196,939,900
Life Expectancy from birth, in years5 53.0 59.9 71.9
Gross National Income per capita, in current international dollars5 5,740.0 2,539.4 16,101.0
Description of Polity Score6 (democratic) -- --
Judicial Independence Composite Score, as average of scores for higher and lower courts7 1.0 0.2 0.8
Official Religion(s)8 Christianity, Islam -- --

Nigeria - Google Map


Religion and the State

Religion and State Collection (2014)

Nigeria
[x]
Is proselytizing Legal?1 Yes
Is religious registration someties denied?1 Registration is required and is never denied, but some religions have more difficulty registering than others
What are the consequences of registration?1 Groups are officially required to register but groups which do not are not in any way restricted, except in that they may be denied status as a legal entity.
Official Support: The formal relationship between religion and state.1 Cooperation
The extent to which religious education is mandatory in public schools.1 Mandatory for some who have no ability to opt out; the course must be in religion but optional for others or there exists for some the option of taking a non-religious course on topics like ethics, philosophy, or religions of the world.
The extent to which funding is exclusive to one or a few religions.1 Government funding of religion goes to only some religions for which there are a substantial number of adherents in the country.
The extent to which there are religious requirements and oaths for holding office.1 --

Constitutional Features [ View Excerpts]

Constitution

Nigeria
[x]
Constitution Year10 1999
Last Amended10 2011
Source10 Constitute Project
Translation10 Original was written in English, edited by ARDA staff.
Current as of10 August 14, 2018

Public Opinion (Nigeria)

(Calculated by the ARDA from the World Values Survey)11
1990 1995 2000 2011
Religious Affiliation/Identification
Percent belonging to a religious denomination. 94.7 98.2 99.3 91.1
Percent identifying as a religious person. 92.8 94.2 96.6 95.9
Percent raised religious. 93.5 93.5 --- ---
Religious Behaviors
Percent attending religious services at least once a month. 88.2 89.5 95.3 90.7
Percent praying to God more than once per week. --- --- --- 96.3
Percent that meditate or pray. 98.5 --- --- ---
Percent attending religious services at least once a month when 12 years old. --- 67.9 --- 78.7
Religious Beliefs
Percent believing in God. 100 99.3 99.7 99.5
Percent believing in heaven. 95.6 98.4 99.2 ---
Percent believing in hell. 51 87.7 93.6 93
Percent believing in life after death. 82.3 85.1 87.5 ---
Percent believing that there are clear guidelines on good and evil. 60.4 57.7 --- ---
Percent believing that politicians who do not believe in God are unfit for public office. --- --- 81.9 ---
Percent believing that religious leaders should not influence people's vote. --- --- 72.6 ---
Percent believing that things would be better if there are more people with strong religious beliefs. --- --- 87.2 ---
Percent that think that religious faith is an important quality in children --- --- --- 72.7
Percent that agree: We depend too much on science and not enough on faith --- --- --- 46.4
Percent believing church gives answers to people's spiritual needs. 89 --- 85.2 ---
Percent that do not trust people of other religions --- --- --- 54.2
Percent believing church gives answers on family life problems. 86.1 --- 78.8 ---
Percent believing churches give answers to moral problems. 86.3 --- 78.9 ---
Percent that often think about meaning and purpose of life --- --- --- 55.9
Percent believing churches give answers to social problems. 82.7 --- 72.6 ---
Percent believing that religious leaders should influence the government. 92.1 95.2 96.8 ---
Percent believing that people have a soul. 61.6 87 --- ---
Percent believing in the concept of sin. 90.1 --- --- ---
Percent believing religious services are important for deaths. 91.6 --- --- ---
Percent believing religious services are important for births. 95.3 --- --- ---
Percent believing religious services are important for marriages. 68.1 --- --- ---
Percent believing in a personal God. 39.1 --- --- ---
Percent believing in telepathy. 45.2 96.4 --- ---
Percent believing in re-incarnation. --- --- --- 38.2
Percent believing in the devil's existence. --- --- --- 31.6
Percent that think that it is more important to follow religious norms and ceremonies than to do good for other people --- --- --- 88.4
Percent that think the meaning of religion is to make sense of life in this world --- --- --- 66.4
Percent that agree that whenever science and religion conflict, religion is always right --- --- --- 79.1
Percent that agree that the "only acceptable religion is my religion." --- --- --- 73.8
Percent that agree that all religions should be taught in public schools --- --- --- 41
Religious Experiences
Percent finding comfort and strength from religion. 96.1 --- 98.2 ---
Attitudes
Percent considering religion important. 94.1 98.5 99.1 97.5
Percent considering that God is not at all important in their life. 0.1 1.1 0.6 0.2
Percent confident in religious organizations. 87.6 82.9 94.8 92
Politics
Percent thinking that churches have an influence on national politics. --- --- 63.8 ---
Percent agreeing that the government protects personal freedom. --- --- 63.4 ---
Percent agreeing that the government protects religious freedom. --- --- 53 ---
Percent agreeing that the only the laws of the Shari'a should be implemented. --- --- --- 35.8

Socio-Economic Measures

Military Measures

Nigeria
[x]
Western Africa
[x]
The World
[x]
Composite Index of National Capability, in fraction of 118 0.0090817 0.001057681 0.005162584
2012 Military expenditure (% of GDP)5 0.5 -- --

Other Measures on Religion, State, and Society


Constitution Clauses Related to Religion


Constitution Excerpts (clauses that reference religion) (Nigeria)10

Preamble

...

... as one ... nation under God, ...

...

Article 6. [On judicial powers]

...

(5) This section relates to:-

...

(f) the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;

(g) a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State;

...

Article 10.

The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.

Article 15.

(1) The motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be Unity and Faith ...

(2) ... discrimination on the grounds of ... religion ... shall be prohibited.

(3) For the purpose of promoting national integration, it shall be the duty of the State to:

...

(c) encourage inter-marriage among persons ... of different religious ... association or ties; and

(d) promote or encourage the formation of associations that cut across ... religious ... barriers.

...

Article 17.

...

(3) The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that-

...

(b) ... there are adequate [work] facilities for ... religious ... life;

...

Article 23.

The national ethics shall be ... Religious Tolerance ... [among others]

Article 38.

(1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

(2) No person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance if such instruction ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his own, or religion not approved by his parent or guardian.

(3) No religious community or denomination shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for pupils of that community or denomination in any place of education maintained wholly by that community or denomination.

(4) Nothing in this section shall entitle any person to form, take part in the activity or be a member of a secret society.

Article 42.

(1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular ... religion ... shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-

(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other ... religions ... are not made subject; or

(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other ... religions ...

Article 84. [On remuneration of official and protection thereof]

...

(4) The offices aforesaid are the offices of ... Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, ... Grand Kadi and Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State, ...

Article 185.

...

(2) The Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office shall be administered by the Chief Judge of the State or Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any or President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the State, if any, or the person for the time being respectively appointed to exercise the functions of any of those offices in any State.

Article 222.

No association by whatever name called shall function as a [political] party, unless-

...

(b) the membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his ... religion ...

...

(e) the name of the association, its symbol or logo does not contain any ... religious connotation ...

...

Article 237.

...

(2) The Court of Appeal shall consist of-

...

(b) such number of Justices of the Court of Appeal, ... of which not less than three shall be learned in Islamic personal law ..., as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

Article 244.

(1) An appeal shall lie from decisions of a Sharia Court of Appeal to the Court of Appeal as of right in any civil proceedings before the Sharia Court of Appeal with respect to any question of Islamic personal law which the Sharia Court of Appeal is competent to decide.

(2) Any right of appeal to the Court of Appeal from the decisions of a Sharia Court of Appeal conferred by this section shall be-

(a) exercisable at the instance of a party thereto or, with the leave of the Sharia Court of Appeal or of the Court of Appeal, at the instance of any other person having an interest in the matter; and

(b) exercised in accordance with an Act of the National Assembly and rules of court for the time being in force regulating the powers, practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal.

Article 247.

(1) For the purpose of exercising any jurisdiction conferred upon it by this Constitution or any other law, the Court of Appeal shall be duly constituted if it consists of not less than three Justices of the Court of Appeal and in the case of appeals from-

(a) a Sharia Court of Appeal if it consists of not less than three Justices of the Court of Appeal learned in Islamic personal law; ...

...

Article 260.

(1) There shall be a Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

(2) The Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall consist of-

(a) a Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal; and

(b) such number of Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

Article 261.

(1) The appointment of a person to the office of the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.

(2) The appointment of a person to the office of a Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

(3) A person shall not be qualified to hold office as Grand Kadi or Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja unless-

(a) he is a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has so qualified for a period of not less than ten years and has obtained a recognised qualification in Islamic law from an institution acceptable to the National Judicial Council; or

(b) he has attended and has obtained a recognised qualification in Islamic law from an institution approved by the National Judicial Council and has held the qualification for a period of not less than twelve years; and

(i) he either has considerable experience in the practice of Islamic law, or

(ii) he is a distinguished scholar of Islamic law.

(4) If the office of the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the President shall appoint the most senior Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal to perform those functions.

(5) Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to the provisions of subsection (4) of this section shall cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment and the President shall not re-appoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.

Article 262.

(1) The Sharia Court of Appeal shall, in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly, exercise such appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Islamic personal law.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, the Sharia Court of Appeal shall be competent to decide-

(a) any question of Islamic personal law regarding a marriage concluded in accordance with that law, including a question relating to the validity or dissolution of such a marriage or a question that depends on such a marriage and relating to family relationship or the guardianship of an infant;

(b) where all the parties to the proceeding are Muslims, any question of Islamic personal law regarding a marriage, including the validity or dissolution of that marriage, or regarding family relationship, a foundling or the guardianship of an infant;

(c) any question of Islamic personal law regarding a wakf, gift, will or succession where the endower, donor, testator or deceased person is a Muslim;

(d) any question of Islamic personal law regarding an infant, prodigal or person of unsound mind who is a Muslim or the maintenance or the guardianship of a Muslim who is physically or mentally infirm; or

(e) where all the parties to the proceedings, being Muslims, have requested the court that hears the case in the first instance to determine that case in accordance with Islamic personal law, any other question.

Article 263.

For the purpose of exercising any jurisdiction conferred upon it by this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly, the Sharia Court of Appeal shall be duly constituted if it consists of at least three Kadis of that Court.

Article 264.

Subject to the provisions of any Act of the National Assembly, the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja may make rules for regulating the practice and procedure of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Article 275.

(1) There shall be for any State that requires it a Sharia Court of Appeal for that State.

(2) The Sharia Court of Appeal of the State shall consist of-

(a) a Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal; and

(b) such member of Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the State.

Article 276.

(1) The appointment of a person to the office of the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the House of Assembly of the State.

(2) The appointment of a person to the office of a Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.

(3) A person shall not be qualified to hold office as a Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State unless-

(a) he is a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than ten years and has obtained a recognized qualification in Islamic law from an institution acceptable to the National Judicial Council; or

(b) he has attended and has obtained a recognised qualification in Islamic law from an institution approved by the National Judicial council and has held the qualification for a period of not less than ten years; and

(i) he either has considerable experience in the practice of Islamic law, or

(ii) he is a distinguished scholar of Islamic law.

(4) If the office of the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State is vacant or if a person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the function of the office, then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the Governor of the State shall appoint the most senior Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State to perform those functions.

(5) Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to subsection (4) of this section shall cease to have effect after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment, and the Governor shall not re-appoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.

Article 277.

(1) The Sharia Court of Appeal of a State shall, in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by the law of the State, exercise such appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Islamic personal Law which the court is competent to decide in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the sharia Court of Appeal shall be competent to decide-

(a) any question of Islamic personal Law regarding a marriage concluded in accordance with that Law, including a question relating to the validity or dissolution of such a marriage or a question that depends on such a marriage and relating to family relationship or the guardianship of an infant;

(b) where all the parties to the proceedings are muslims, any question of Islamic personal Law regarding a marriage, including the validity or dissolution of that marriage, or regarding family relationship, a founding or the guarding of an infant;

(c) any question of Islamic personal Law regarding a wakf, gift, will or succession where the endower, donor, testator or deceased person is a muslim;

(d) any question of Islamic personal Law regarding an infant, prodigal or person of unsound mind who is a muslim or the maintenance or the guardianship of a muslim who is physically or mentally infirm; or

(e) where all the parties to the proceedings, being muslims, have requested the court that hears the case in the first instance to determine that case in accordance with Islamic personal law, any other question.

Article 278.

For the purpose of exercising any jurisdiction conferred upon it this Constitution or any law, a sharia Court of Appeal of a State shall be duly constituted if it consists of at least three kadis of that Court.

Article 279.

Subject to provisions of any made by the House of Assembly of the State, the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the state may make rules regulating the practice and procedure of the Sharia Court of Appeal.

Article 288.

(1) ... the President shall have regard to the need to ensure that there are among the holders of such offices persons learned in Islamic personal law ...

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section-

(a) a person shall be deemed to be learned in Islamic personal law if he is a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than fifteen years in the case of a Justice of the Supreme Court or not less than twelve years in the case of a Justice of the Court of Appeal and has in either case obtained a recognized qualification in Islamic law from an institution acceptable to the National Judicial Council; ...

...

Article 289.

No legal practitioner shall be qualified for appointment as ... a Judge of ... a Kadi or a Sharia Court of Appeal ... whilst he is a member of the National Judicial Council or Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or a State Judicial Service Commission, and he shall remain so disqualified until a period of three years has elapsed since he ceased to be member.

Article 292.

(1) A judicial officer shall not be removed from his office or appointment before his age of retirement except in the following circumstances-

(a) in the case of-

(i) ... Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja ..., by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate,

(ii) ... Grand Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal ..., by the Governor acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly of the State, praying that he be so removed for his inability to discharge the functions of his office or appointment (whether arising from infirmity of mind or of body) or for misconduct or contravention of the Code of Conduct;

...

...

Schedule II. Legislative powers.

Part I. Exclusive legislative list.

...

(61) The formation, annulment and dissolution of marriages other than marriages under Islamic law ... including matrimonial causes relating thereto.

...

Schedule III.

Part I. Federal Executive Bodies.

20. The National Judicial Council shall comprise the following members-

...

(g) one Grand Kadi to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among Grand Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years;

...

21. The National Judicial Council shall have power to-

(a) recommend to the President from among the list of persons submitted to it by-

...

(ii) ... persons for appointment to the offices of ... the Grand Kadi and Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja ...

(b) recommend to the President the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers;

(c) recommend to the Governors from among the list of persons submitted to it by the State Judicial Service Commissions persons for appointments to the offices of ... the Grand Kadis and Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal of the States ...

(d) recommend to the Governors the removal from the office of the judicial officers in sub-paragraph (c) of this paragraph, and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers;

...

Part II. State’s Executive Bodies (Established by Section 197).

...

C. State Judicial Service Commission.

5. A State Judicial Service Commission shall comprise the following members-

...

(c) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any;

...

6. The Commission shall have power to-

(a) advise the National Judicial Council on suitable persons for nomination to the office of-

...

(ii) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any,

...

(v) Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State, if any, ...

...

(b) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, to recommend to the National Judicial Council the removal from the office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph; and

(c) to appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over ... the Chief Registrars of the Sharia Court of Appeal ...

Part III. Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Executive Body (Established under Section 304) Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

1. The Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall comprise the following members-

...

(c) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;

...

2. The Committee shall have power-

(a) to recommend to the National Judicial Council suitable persons for nomination for appointment to the office of-

...

(iii) the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,

...

(v) a Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,

...

(b) subject to the provisions of this Constitution, to recommend to the National Judicial Council the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph;

(c) to appoint, promote and exercise disciplinary control over ... the Sharia Court of Appeal ...

Schedule VI. Election Tribunals.

A. National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunals.

1. ...

(2) The Chairman who shall be a Judge of a High Court and the two other members shall be appointed from among ... Kadis of a Sharia Court of Appeal ... [among others]

(3) The Chairman and other members shall be appointed by the President of the Court of Appeal in consultation with ... the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State ... [among others], as the case may be.

B. Governorship Election Tribunal.

2. ...

(2) The Chairman who shall be a Judge of a High Court and the two other members shall be appointed from among ... Kadis of a Sharia Court of Appeal ... [among others]

(3) The Chairman and other members shall be appointed by the President of the Court of Appeal in consultation with ... the Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the State ... [among others], as the case may be.

Variable Details

  • For more details on State Funding of Religion (FUN_4CAT) see this document.
  • For more details on Societal Discrimination of Minority Religions (SOC_4CAT) see this document.
  • For more details on State Regulation of Majority or All Religions (NXX_4CAT) see this document.
  • For more details on State Discrimination of Minority Religions (MXX_4CAT) see this document.
  • Sources

    1 The Religion and State (RAS) Project is a university-based project located at Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel and is directed by Jonathan Fox. Round 3 of the RAS includes all countries with populations of 250,000 or more as well as a sampling of smaller states and offers annual measures from 1990 to 2014. The methods used for conducting the RAS3 collection and the complete codebook can be reviewed online. Or, the codebook and data file can be downloaded free of charge here. For details on how the RAS indexes reported on the ARDA’s National Profiles were coded, constructed, and placed into categories, click here.

    2 Todd M. Johnson and Brian J. Grim, eds. World Religion Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2022).

    3 The U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report is submitted to Congress annually by the Department of State in compliance with Section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. This report supplements the most recent Human Rights Reports by providing additional detailed information with respect to matters involving international religious freedom. It includes individual country chapters on the status of religious freedom worldwide. A dataset with these and the other international measures highlighted on the country pages can be downloaded from this website. These State Department reports are open source.

    4 The Religious Characteristics of States Dataset Project: Demographics reports the estimates of religious demographics, both country by country and region by region. The RCS was created to fulfill the unmet need for a dataset on the religious dimensions of countries of the world, with the state-year as the unit of observation. It estimates populations and percentages of adherents of 100 religious denominations including second level subdivision within Christianity and Islam. The RCS Data Project would like to acknowledge, recognize, and express our deepest gratitude for the significant contributions of Todd M. Johnson the co-principal investigator of the World Religion Database.

    5 Relying on agencies from each country, as well as a synthesis of data from United Nations divisions, Eurostate Demographic statistics, the U.S. Census international database, and its own data collection, the World Bank's Open Data site offers free and open access to data about development in countries around the globe.

    6 The Center for Systemic Peace (CSP) is engaged in innovative research on the problem of political violence within the structural context of the dynamic global system. The Center supports scientific research and quantitative analysis in many issue areas related to the fundamental problems of violence in both human relations and societal-systemic development processes. The Center continually monitors political behavior in each of the world's major states and reports on emerging issues and persisting conditions related to the problems of political violence and "state failure." A dataset with these and other international measures can be downloaded from here. Used with permission. *Note: Polity Scores range from -10 to 10 and include the following categories: -10 to -9: strongly autocratic, -8 to -7 autocratic, -6 to -4 weakly autocratic, -3 to +3 anocratic, +4 to +6 weakly democratic, +7 to +8 democratic, +9 to +10 strongly democratic.

    7 Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) is a new approach to conceptualizing and measuring democracy. V-Dem provides a multidimensional and disaggregated dataset that reflects the complexity of the concept of democracy as a system of rule that goes beyond simple presence of elections. The V-Dem project distinguishes between seven high-level principles of democracy: electoral, liberal, participatory, deliberative, egalitarian, majoritarian, and consensual, and collects data to measure these principles. A dataset with these and other international measures can be downloaded from here. Used with permission.

    8 The Religious Characteristics of States Dataset Project: Government Religious Preference (GRP) measures government-level favoritism toward, and disfavor against, 30 religious denominations. A series of ordered categorical variables index the state's institutional favoritism in 28 different ways. The variables are combined to form five composite indices for five broad components of state-religion: official status, religious education, financial support, regulatory burdens, and freedom of practice. The five components' composites in turn are further combined into a single composite score, the GRP score. The RCS Data Project would like to acknowledge, recognize, and express our deepest gratitude for the significant contributions of Todd M. Johnson, the principal investigator of the World Christian Database, the co-principal investigator of the World Religion Database, and co-author of the World Christian Encyclopedia series.

    9 Data under the "Features of Constitution" heading are drawn from coding of the U.S. State Department's 2008 International Religious Freedom Reports conducted by researchers at the Association of Religion Data Archives. The article by Brian Grim and Roger Finke describes the coding of the International Religious Freedom reports. A dataset with these and the other international measures highlighted on the country pages can be downloaded from this website. Used with permission.

    10 Text from country constitutions was copied from primary documents obtained online using a variety of sources, including the Constitute Project, World Constitutions Illustrated, and government sources. When the text was in a language other than English, it was translated to English by ARDA staff or with web-based translation utilities such as Google Translate. Emphases were added to the text by ARDA staff to differentiate religious content from non-religious content. Text is current to the date listed in the "Current as of" field shown above. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are aware of any incorrect information provided on this page.

    11 The World Values Survey is a worldwide investigation of socio-cultural and political change. It is conducted by a network of social scientists at leading universities around the world. Interviews have been carried out with nationally representative samples of the publics of more than 80 societies. A total of four waves have been carried out since 1981. The ARDA has averaged the weighted responses across the waves for each country surveyed. The average responses for all countries have been placed in a single file and can be previewed and downloaded here. See the World Values Survey website for further information and to download the original survey data: http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/.

    12 Freedom House is an independent non-governmental organization that offers measures of the extent to which governments are accountable to their own people; the rule of law prevails; and freedoms of expression, association, belief and respect for the rights of minorities and women are guaranteed. A dataset with these and the other international measures highlighted on the country pages can be downloaded from this website. Used with permission.

    13 The CIA's World Factbook was created as an annual summary and update to the now defunct National Intelligence Survey (NIS) studies. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971. The NIS program was terminated in 1973 except for the Factbook, map, and gazetteer components. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO). The year 2010 marks the 67th year of the World Factbook and its predecessor programs. The maps and flags are also from the World Factbook, which is an open source.

    14 Relying on agencies from each country, as well as a synthesis of data from United Nations divisions, Eurostate Demographic statistics, the U.S. Census international database, and its own data collection, the World Bank's Open Data site offers free and open access to data about development in countries around the globe.

    15 The Heritage Foundation/Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom is a systematic, empirical measurement of economic freedom in countries throughout the world. A set of objective economic criteria are used to study and grade various countries for the annual publication of the Index of Economic Freedom. A dataset with these and the other international measures highlighted on the country pages can be downloaded from this website. Used with permission.

    16 The United Nations Human Development Reports provide data and statistical analysis in various areas of human development. The Human Development Report (HDR) presents two types of statistics: the human development indicator tables, which provide a global assessment of country achievements in different areas of human development, and thematic statistical analysis. A dataset with these and the other international measures highlighted on the country pages can be downloaded from this website. Used with permission.

    17 The 2013 Gender Inequality Index is a composite measure reflecting inequality in achievements between women and men in three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labor market. It varies between zero (when women and men fare equally) and one (when men or women fare poorly compared to the other in all dimensions). The health dimension is measured by two indicators: maternal mortality ratio and the adolescent fertility rate. The empowerment dimension is also measured by two indicators: the share of parliamentary seats held by each sex and by secondary and higher education attainment levels. The labor dimension is measured by women’s participation in the work force. Source: The United Nations Human Development Reports provide data and statistical analysis in various areas of human development. The Human Development Report (HDR) presents two types of statistics: the human development indicator tables, which provide a global assessment of country achievements in different areas of human development, and thematic statistical analysis. A dataset with these and the other international measures highlighted on the country pages can be downloaded from this website. Used with permission.

    18 Military data is drawn from the National Material Capabilities (v4.0) dataset, which is a component of and hosted by the Correlates of War Project. The Correlates of War Project seeks to facilitate the collection, dissemination, and use of accurate and reliable quantitative data in international relations. Correlates of War data may be accessed through the above link. Used with permission.

    19 The article by Brian Grim and Roger Finke describes the coding of the U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom reports. The 2003, 2005, and 2008 reports were coded by researchers at the Association of Religion Data Archives. The GRI, GFI and SRI values reported on the National Profiles are averages from the 2003, 2005, and 2008 International Religious Freedom reports, while the Religious Persecution measure is an average from the 2005 and 2008 reports. All other measures derived from the International Religious Freedom reports were coded from the reports 2008. A data file with all of the 2008 coding, as well as data files with other cross national collections are available for preview and download from the data archive on this site. Used with permission.

    20 The Cingranelli-Richards (CIRI) Human Rights Dataset contains standards-based quantitative information on government respect for 15 internationally recognized human rights for 202 countries, annually from 1981-2011. It is designed for use by scholars and students who seek to test theories about the causes and consequences of human rights violations, as well as policy makers and analysts who seek to estimate the human rights effects of a wide variety of institutional changes and public policies including democratization, economic aid, military aid, structural adjustment, and humanitarian intervention. The full CIRI Human Rights Dataset can be accessed through the above link. Used with permission.

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