The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticized the Federal Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) for what it described as discriminatory treatment of Nigerian Muslims, particularly in the provision of free train services during festive periods.
In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday, June 5, 2025, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, alleged that while Christians were offered free train rides during the 2024 Christmas celebrations and into early January 2025, no such provision has been made for Muslims ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Kabir (Salah) celebration.
“A strange scenario is currently playing out in the Nigerian socio-cultural landscape,” Professor Akintola stated. “While the Federal Government announced two weeks of free train services for Christmas, it has remained silent on any such gesture for the Salah period.”
The statement referenced official reports confirming the government’s support during the Yuletide season, including an extension of free rides until January 7, 2025. In contrast, NRC’s recent announcement concerning Salah only mentioned an extension of services, not free rides a move MURIC described as inadequate and inequitable.
MURIC questioned whether Nigeria’s social interventions are meant only for one religious group. “We are constrained to ask: is free train service meant for Christians alone? Are Muslims truly being carried along in this government?” the statement read.
The Islamic advocacy group expressed disappointment that even under a Muslim-Muslim presidency, Muslims are not enjoying equal dividends of democracy, described the situation as “marginalization, ostracization, and oppression.”
“If this is an oversight, we demand an apology from the Federal Government,” Professor Akintola said. “But if it is deliberate, it is a dangerous display of executive impunity.”
MURIC further called for a holistic review of what it termed the “neocolonial religious imbalance” in Nigeria’s public policy, including national holidays and weekend structures, arguing that these were skewed in favour of Christianity during colonial rule and never addressed post-independence.
The group concluded by congratulating Nigerian Muslims on the upcoming Eid al-Kabir and encouraged patience, resilience, and continued faith in divine justice.
