The Council of Ulama in Nigeria has called for greater unity and coordination among Muslim leaders and uniformity in Islamic preaching to prevent the misinterpretation of the Qur’an and divisions within the Muslim community.

The call was made at the Council’s 2026 Annual Conference held at the headquarters of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna, where Islamic scholars and other stakeholders discussed insecurity, governance, poverty and moral decadence in the country.

In a message to the conference, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged Islamic scholars to promote unity and adhere strictly to the teachings of Islam.

The Sultan, represented by the Secretary-General of JNI, Sheikh Khalid Aliyu, described Islam as a religion of peace and stressed the need for harmony among its followers, particularly religious leaders.

He cautioned against preaching capable of promoting hatred and division, noting that such conduct could reflect a shallow understanding of the Qur’an and Islamic teachings.

Speaking on the Council’s activities, its National Secretary, Prof. Muhammad Sadiq Abubakar, said the annual conference provided an opportunity for Islamic scholars to review developments affecting Muslims and the wider Nigerian society.

He explained that the Council made recommendations on issues discussed at its meetings and forwarded its resolutions to relevant authorities for consideration and implementation.

On insecurity, Abubakar expressed concern that banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges had persisted despite repeated recommendations by religious leaders over the past five years.

He urged the Federal Government to strengthen its response by engaging security chiefs, setting clear performance targets and holding them accountable for results.

The cleric acknowledged government efforts to address insecurity but maintained that more decisive measures were required to end the persistent violence.

In a paper titled “Islamic Perspective on the Present Political Dispensation,” Dr. Usman Muhammad Bugaje attributed rising poverty, moral decadence and insecurity partly to poor or irregular budget implementation.

He observed that implementation of the previous year’s budget reportedly began around June, arguing that the delay had affected development and the timely delivery of expected benefits to Nigerians.

Bugaje urged Muslim leaders to participate actively in democratic processes, noting that the Qur’an provides principles of leadership that can guide efforts to promote justice, accountability and citizens’ welfare.

In his address, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, represented by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Alhaji Isa Ashiru Kudan, urged Islamic scholars to examine their own conduct while addressing challenges confronting society.

He called on religious leaders to use their positions to promote moral values and social responsibility for a better and more prosperous society.

Atiku also cautioned religious leaders against openly favouring particular political candidates, urging them to maintain fairness and ensure that resolutions reached at the conference were implemented.

Similarly, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, represented by the Director-General of Interreligious Affairs, Mallam Tahir Umar Tahir, expressed concern over what he described as declining mutual respect among religious leaders.

The governor observed that some religious leaders had resorted to disparaging one another for personal reasons, warning that such conduct could undermine unity and peaceful coexistence.

He urged them to regard themselves as partners in promoting religious harmony and contributing to national development.

Uba Sani commended the organisers of the conference and pledged his administration’s support for initiatives aimed at promoting religious activities and peaceful coexistence in Kaduna State.