The Ministry of Interior, which runs the Ikoyi marriage registry, had ordered the suspension of about 4,000 weddings since March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, those who could wait were being given the option of “change of venue” at an extra cost of between N30,000 and N50,000.
According to an applicant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the “change of venue” option entails that the couple will name a place of their choice where the registry officials will come to conduct the wedding.
The applicant said he had applied to be wedded at the registry since early June and after paying the official N33,000 and filling all the required forms, he got an email informing him that his oath taking would be on June 14, while the wedding would be June 15.
However, on getting to the registry on June 14, he was told that because of COVID-19, the registry had suspended the conduct of weddings until further notice.
The applicant said, “But when I complained that they should have sent me another mail to inform me about the change, they said it was government policy.
“The man, who spoke to me, said I was not the only one, that they had over 4,000 applicants, some of whom had been waiting since March. He said if I could wait, they would contact me when they start conducting weddings but if I could not wait, I could take the option of change of venue and that it will attract another N50,000.”
