FG to set up marriage registries in Nigeria’s 36 states

The Federal Government is to set up marriage registries in all the 36 state capitals in the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Barr Georgina Ehuriah disclosed this on Thursday in Port Harcourt, River State.

According to a statement by the Director (Press & Public Relations) of the ministry, Mohammed Manga, the permanent secretary said this while declaring open a one-day sensitisation conference on the conduct of statutory marriages in Nigeria.

She said arrangements were also underway to establish new federal marriage registries in Umuahia, Abia State and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, to address the challenges faced by couples in the South-South and South East Zones.

Barr. Ehuriah further said “machinery has also been put in place for the amendment of the Marriage Act to adequately meet the needs of the 21st century” and give couples whose certificates were not issued in line with the Act the opportunity to bring them to conformity.

According to her, the ministry was exploring the possibility of integrating the marriage registries operated by Local Governments into its online platform so as to bring them in conformity with the Marriage Act.

The statement said the Director, Citizenship & Business Department, of the Interior, Mr. Stephen Okon had earlier stated that the Conference was necessitated by the

challenges faced by citizens because of wrong documentation of their marriages which have led to series of litigations.