Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has announced plans to enforce a state law that bans extravagant pre-wedding activities, warning that rising marriage costs are discouraging young people from getting married.
The Governor made the announcement on Friday while commissioning the remodelled Zawiyatu Sheikh Aliyu Bunza Jumu’at Mosque and Islamiyya School in Sokoto.
Aliyu said many families now insist on expensive pre-wedding ceremonies that place financial pressure on intending couples, adding that the trend has contributed to an increase in the number of unmarried men and women in the state.
He noted that some parents and guardians continue to ignore the law, prompting the government to plan a meeting with relevant stakeholders to review the regulations and ensure compliance.
The Governor also said the high cost of marriage is pushing some youths into immoral behaviour, and called on Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, parents and guardians to support the enforcement of the law.
Aliyu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to Islamic affairs through the construction and renovation of mosques, the establishment of Islamiyya schools, and support for Qur’anic teachers, Imams and preachers.
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The Special Guest of Honour, Sheikh Aminu Wali Ayu Zuru, commended the Governor for mosque and Islamiyya school development over the past two years.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Wazirin Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaid, also praised the administration’s policies on Islamic affairs, describing them as consistent with the legacy of the Sokoto Caliphate.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr. Jabir Sani Mai Hulla, said several Jumu’ah mosques were nearing completion across the state and announced plans for a workshop for Islamic preachers in collaboration with an NGO.
Sheikh Aminu Wali later commissioned the remodelled mosque and led the Jumu’ah prayers.