The Muslim Congress (TMC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce comprehensive measures to cushion the harsh effects of his administration’s economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians, warning that the biting hardship is pushing many citizens into deeper vulnerability.
The faith-based organisation also urged the President to urgently intervene in the brewing crisis between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery over unionisation of workers, stressing that the dispute could snowball into a national economic crisis if not swiftly resolved.
Speaking in Abeokuta on Saturday during the 18th Annual Lecture of the organisation, held in commemoration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, the Waali of the Ogun State chapter of TMC, Dr. Abdulrazaq Ogunmoye, said while the reforms were designed for long-term economic stability, government must not neglect the plight of vulnerable Nigerians.
“The plight of the common Nigerian, grappling with rising costs of living, demands not just policy, but palpable empathy and immediate relief. A nation’s strength is derived from the well-being of its citizens,” Ogunmoye said.
On the PENGASSAN-Dangote dispute, Ogunmoye warned that allowing the conflict to linger would disrupt the energy sector with “devastating consequences” for Nigerians.
“We respectfully and urgently call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene and help broker a lasting resolution. Dialogue and justice must prevail,” he appealed.
The group also raised concern over the “heart-wrenching” humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestine, where thousands of civilians have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
TMC called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, describing the killings of women and children as “a scar on our collective conscience.”
The Ogun State Amir of TMC described the annual lecture as a platform for “renewed commitment to building a Nigeria where justice reigns, prosperity is shared, and peace is unshakable.”
Delivering a lecture on “The New World Order: Local Political Dynamics, Global Diplomacy and Pathways to Genuine National Sovereignty”, Professor Ishaq Akintola emphasised the importance of economic independence through local industries in agriculture, energy, and technology.
Represented by Dr. Abdulkareem Nurudeen, the MURIC Founder also urged Nigeria to deepen intra-OIC trade and adopt Islamic finance as alternatives to Western banking systems.
He further argued that genuine sovereignty requires aligning governance with divine guidance, justice, and self-reliance.
“By pursuing intellectual renewal, economic independence, political reform, diplomatic realignment, and spiritual revival, Nigeria can resist manipulation from global powers,” he said.
Another speaker, Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Ariremako, who delivered a paper on “Shariah in a Pluralistic Society: Prospects, Challenges and Strategies for Effective Implementation”, lamented that ignorance and misconceptions fuel resistance to Shariah law in the South-West.
He urged Muslim and Christian leaders to hold dialogue sessions to explain the socio-economic benefits of Shariah.
Also speaking, the Baba Adini of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Ishola, urged Nigerians to fear God in governance and daily life.
The former High Commissioner to the UK advised Muslims to be constructive in their criticism of government and to pray for leaders to “do the needful.”
Similarly, a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, called for proper planning to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, particularly banditry and insurgency. He urged government to strengthen the police while charging Muslims to remain good ambassadors of Islam.
The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola, represented by Prof. Moruf Adelekan, and Hajia Rofiat Olaleye, Principal of Alaye High School, Ayetoro, also delivered goodwill messages, encouraging Muslims to be role models in society.
The programme also featured the unveiling of a N100 million fundraising project for TMC’s proposed Ogun State Secretariat.
Awards were presented to notable contributors to the growth of Islam, including the Secretary-General of Ogun State Muslim Council, Asiwaju Kamaldeen Akintunde, and Alhaji AbdulWaheed Shittu. Free medical services were also provided to participants at the Alake Pavilion venue.
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