SOKOTO — If you are wondering why there are so many eligible bachelors and spinsters in Sokoto State, Governor Ahmed Aliyu says he knows the reason: Weddings have become too expensive.

The Governor has cried out over the rising cost of “pre-wedding” activities and excessive demands from families, stating that the billing is scaring young people away from settling down.

In a statement released on Sunday, Governor Aliyu noted that the culture of showing off and demanding too much has turned marriage into a luxury that many youths simply can’t afford.

According to the Governor, this financial pressure is not just keeping people single; it is fueling “immoral behavior” among youths who want companionship but can’t foot the bill for a lavish ceremony.

To fix this, the Governor is not just talking—he is acting. He announced plans to strictly enforce an existing law that bans extravagance during wedding preparations.

“The growing culture of unnecessary and excessive pre-wedding activities has imposed heavy financial burdens on intending couples and has discouraged many young people from getting married,” the Governor said.

The Governor also threw a subtle shade at parents and guardians who are flouting the law to display wealth. He warned that the government is bringing stakeholders together to review and enforce the law to protect young people.

He urged parents, traditional rulers, and Islamic scholars to help make marriage easy and affordable, aligning with Islamic teachings rather than emptying bank accounts.

The Governor dropped this hint during the commissioning of the remodelled Zawiyatu Sheikh Aliyu Bunza Jumu’at Mosque in Sokoto, where the Sultan of Sokoto and other clerics praised his efforts in religious affairs.