Female Muslim students can now use hijab in public schools in Lagos State, according a circular by the state’s area unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

A Lagos high court had in October 2014, ruled against the use of hijabs in schools, but the judgement was later upturned by an appeal court in July 2016.

Unhappy with the verdict, the state government took the case to the supreme court. It subsequently placed a ban on the use of hijab in August, 2018.

However, in a new circular, the state government asked that status quo be maintained in order to avoid contempt of court. It however said the hijab must be “short, smart, neat and in the same colour of the uniform (skirt).