Vice Chancellor of Univeristy of Ilorin, Ishaq Oloyede, a Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence, has said that Nigeria is not a secular state as it is regarded in certain quarters.

Oloyede, Secretary General of National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), who stated this in his inaugural lecture entitled "Islamics: The Conflux of Disciplines", he delivered at the university on Thursday, argued that the country is rather multi-religious.

Arguments had come up on the religious status of Nigeria when Shari’ah law was given greater force of law to become more official in some states in the country as it was thought in some quarters that the country is a secular one, where no particular religious law should be made the prevailing official law.

But some Islamic leaders argued that the country is a multi-religious state and that it was erroneous to describe it as secular.

Oloyede in is lecture, re-echoed this argument and cautioned that neither a state religion, nor secularity should be imposed on the country.

He stated: "Nigeria is a multi-religious state and no attempt ought to be made to impose either a state religion or secularity on any part of Nigeria.

"We have called attention to the hypocrisy and futility of secularity or secularism even in countries generally regarded as secular.

"On the other hand, we have provided a legal basis within Islamic law, for Muslims in Nigeria.

"The set up in Nigeria made us classify the country as Daru ‘l-Mu ‘ahadah (Treaty State) under which Muslims are obligated to live peacefully and collaborate with fellow citizens for the development of the nation."

Oloyede said the three systems of law in the country, common, Islamic and customary laws, provided for by the constitution, should be allowed to operate without any major conflict.

He stated: "It is our opinion that every Nigerian should be free to choose customary or Islamic law and should be applicable and enforceable in matrimonial matters in any part of Nigeria to promote national unity and integration.

"The House of Assembly in each state should within the limits of justice, fairness and respect for the minorities, prescribe applicable laws in other civil and criminal matters."

Oloyede called on the government to make Islamic and Christian Religious Studies a component of General Studies in all tertiary institutions, and core and compulsory from primary up to the secondary school level, to aid understanding of each other’s religion.

He said: "Ignorance, a major misfortune, accounts for much of the so-called religious crises in Nigeria, and it is only the light of knowledge that can dispel the ignorance pervading the land, part of which accounts for the thinking that religion is the problem."