NiO-doped hibonite pigments were synthesized by the solid state method to get stabilized blue color pigment in both oxidation and reduction atmospheres. Optimum substitution condition with NiO for hibonite blue pigment was investigated. Experimental results were comparable to those of previous cobalt-minimization studies performed with other phosphate- or oxide-based cobalt-containing ceramic pigments (having olivine ($Co_2SiO_4$), spinel ($CoAl_2O_4$), or with co-doped willemite ($(Co,Zn)_2SiO_4$) structures). Composition was designed varying the NiO molar ratio increasing with $SnO_2$. The optimum substitution content is 0.93 mole NiO with 0.75mole $SnO_2$. The characteristics of the synthesized pigment were analyzed by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and UV-vis. Synthesized pigment was applied to a lime-barium glaze with 10 wt% each and fired at an oxidation atmosphere of $1250^{circ}C/1h$ and a reducing atmosphere $1240^{circ}C/1h$. Blue color was obtained with $L^*a^*b^*$ values at 43.39, -6.78, -18.20 under a reducing atmosphere and 41.66, -6.36, -14.7 under and oxidation atmosphere, respectively.