A Nigerian human rights activist has criticised the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 authorities for decorating the terminal with Islamic star and crescent symbols, saying that it violates the secular character of Nigeria's constitution. Dr Leo Igwe, a board member of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, expressed concerns about the creeping Islamisation of the country and the slow transformation of Nigeria into an Islamic theocracy. Igwe pointed out that the decoration violated the constitutional provision of the equality of religious and nonreligious Nigerians before the law.
Igwe argued that the decoration violated the secular character of the Nigerian constitution and indicated that Nigeria had become a de facto Islamic republic. He claimed that Nigeria's main religions, especially Christianity and Islam, enjoy enormous privilege and political support despite the secular intent of the constitution. Section 10 of the constitution prohibits state religions, stipulating that no part of the federation or state should adopt any religion as the official religion, and outlaws state support, sponsorship or promotion of any faith. However, the Nigerian government is seldom neutral in practice, and the secular constitutional provision has brazenly been ignored.
Igwe stated that his organisation is not against any religious or secular decorations in government structures but said that such buildings should accommodate all religious and nonreligious images and symbols. He urged that the government could choose to be neutral by not decorating state airports and offices with any religious symbols or decorate state offices and structures to accommodate all religious and irreligious icons and symbols.
The statement made by Dr Leo Igwe, titled "Humanist Release: Ramadan/Easter: Islamic Star and Crescent Decoration is Discriminatory and Violates Constitution," criticised the decoration of the MMA2 terminal with the Islamic star and crescent, stating that it underscored Islamic privilege and officially discriminated against Nigerians from other faiths and no faith traditions.
The decoration of the terminal at a time when Christians and Muslims are in the mood of Ramadan and Easter respectively, has stirred up reactions from Nigerians. While some agree with Dr Leo Igwe's view that it violated the constitutional provision of the equality of religious and nonreligious Nigerians before the law, others believe that it is a display of religious tolerance and appreciation of diversity.
In recent years, there have been concerns raised about the creeping Islamisation of Nigeria, with some arguing that the country is slowly transforming into an Islamic state. Nigeria is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, with Islam and Christianity being the dominant religions. However, the country has witnessed sectarian and religious conflicts that have resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
While the decoration of the MMA2 terminal with the Islamic star and crescent may have been intended to celebrate the Muslim month of Ramadan, it has sparked a conversation about Nigeria's constitutional provisions and the need for the government to be neutral in matters of religion. It is important for the government to ensure that all Nigerians are treated equally and that their rights to freedom of religion or belief are respected. Nigeria's diversity should be celebrated, and the government should strive to promote unity and peaceful coexistence among all religious and ethnic groups.
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