Professional Review of Waqf Legislation and Management Reform in Kebbi State

Waqf endowment property in Kebbi State encompasses mosques, schools, agricultural lands, and urban properties accumulated over centuries of Islamic civilisation in the Sokoto Caliphate region, yet inadequate legislative frameworks and governance structures have led to the deterioration, misappropriation, and disputed ownership of significant portions of these endowments. This study conducts a professional review of Waqf legislation and management practices in Kebbi State and proposes institutional reforms. A professional legal and management analysis is applied, reviewing existing Kebbi State Waqf-related legislation, the Hubusi Commission's governance structure, property audit findings from 2018 to 2022, and structured interviews with twelve Waqf administrators, ten Islamic law experts, and six state government officials. The study evaluates the legal basis for Waqf creation and management, the accountability mechanisms for trustees, the dispute resolution procedures for contested Waqf properties, and the revenue generation potential of underutilised assets. Available professional Islamic property law literature from Nigeria identifies the absence of a dedicated Waqf authority with enforcement powers as the primary structural management deficiency. The classical Islamic Waqf jurisprudence and the AAOIFI Waqf Governance Standards provide the professional analytical reference. Findings are expected to reveal substantial governance deficiencies. Recommendations address a dedicated Kebbi State Waqf Authority with enforcement powers, a comprehensive Waqf asset registry, professional trustee training, and Waqf commercialisation strategies for revenue generation. Keywords: Waqf legislation, Kebbi State, Islamic endowment management, property law reform, institutional governance.