How to register a marriage in Nigeria

Following is a guideline on how to register a marriage in the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Nigerian law.  Please note that Nigerian authorities do not usually require an Australian citizen to provide a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI) when registering a marriage.

• Marriage is registered at a local public registry, which requires a Letter of Marriage Intention and payment of a fee of Naira 2,000.
• A person under 18 years of age, who wishes to register a marriage, is required to present a letter of consent from his or her parents.
• The registry will display the Letter of Marriage Intention for 21 days on a public notice board.
• Provided that no objection to the intended marriage is made during the 21 day period, a couple may then register their marriage.
• Birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple are required together with the results of HIV and genotype tests.
• A divorcee must produce a divorce certificate, while a widow or a widower is required to present the death certificate of the late spouse.
• A marriage registrar may witness the exchange of oaths by the couple.