The scarcity of naira notes has enforced a new order in marriage transactions in Jigawa State whereby intending grooms now pay for dowry and other traditional rights through mobile transfers.
The dowry, one of the most important conditions that validate a marriage in Islam, is usually given in cash during the wedding Fatiha.
However, most of the wedding Fatiha that took place across the state over the weekend were formalized through e-banking, DAILY POST observed.
This was due to the scarcity of naira in the wake of the announcement of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, of a deadline for use of old naira notes across the country. The resultant scarcity of the naira currency, both old and new, has forced the shutdown of businesses in the state.
Speaking to DAILY POST, a representative of one of the new grooms in Ringim town, Malam Haruna, said they have no other option than to send the dowry through bank transfer for the normalization of the marriage.
“This time around, we have to send the dowry to the representative of the bride and waited until they have received the alert before the wedding Fatiha,” he said.
The bride’s representative, Malam Sani, averred that the e-banking payment of the dowry caused a little disruption.
“We have to wait for about an hour before we received the e-payment of the dowry for the formalization of the marriage,” he said.