Sokoto Governor Revives Hisbah: Impact and Implications

Hisbah Re-establishment in Sokoto: Governor’s Bold Move Explained

The Sokoto State government, led by Governor Ahmad Aliyu, has moved to re-establish the Hisbah board by signing the Sokoto State Hisbah Bill into law.

The state assembly had earlier passed this bill, following consultations among stakeholders.

Hisbah, a religious enforcement body in some northern Nigerian states, is tasked with promoting Islamic values, maintaining public order, and enforcing Sharia law within the state’s jurisdiction.

The Sokoto government intends for the board to play a constructive role in fostering discipline and religious compliance without overstepping its boundaries.

Similar Hisbah boards exist in states like Kano, where they oversee traffic control during religious events, advocate moral behavior, and provide community services like cleaning graveyards and educating the youth on Islamic principles​.