Polygamy in Nigeria

Polygamy is legal in the north of Nigeria

The 12 Muslim majority states in Nigeria's north where polygamy is legal.

Under civil law, Nigeria does not recognize polygamous unions.[1] However, 12 out of the 36 Nigerian states recognize polygamous marriages as being equivalent to monogamous marriages. All twelve states are governed by Sharia law. The states, which are all northern, include the states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara[2] which allows for a man to take more than one wife.[3]

Nigeria is part of the "polygamy belt", a region in West Africa and Central Africa where polygamy is common and deeply rooted in the culture.[4][5] Nigeria is estimated as having the fifth highest polygamy prevalence in the world, with 28% of the population living in polygamous marriages, with only four countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia and Niger) having a higher prevalence.[6]

## Practice

[edit]

Zamfara State was the first to legislate polygamy,[7] which occurred on January 7, 2000. Gombe State has been the most recent state to provide for civil polygamy, legalizing it on December 14, 2001.[8]

As the southern region of Nigeria is composed of mostly Christians, polygamous marriages have not been legally introduced at this time. Attempts to introduce Sharia (thereby legalizing polygamy) have been made in Oyo State, Kwara State, Lagos State,[9][10] and several others, yet all unsuccessful. Polygamous unions are recognized by customary law in Nigeria, providing a handful of benefits for those in polygamous unions ranging from inheritance rights to child custody.[11]

As of 2009, there has yet to be any debate of introducing a measure that would allow for civil polygamous marriages to be recognized within the entire country of Nigeria, letting the legislation play out on a state-by-state basis rather than introducing a nationwide measure. There are an estimated forty million polygamists in Nigeria.[12]

### Dynamics

[edit]

There are no requirements based on religion in the North, therefore Christians are legally allowed to form polygamous unions just as Muslims may do. Christian church leaders such as Archbishop Peter Akinola of the Anglican Church of Nigeria have condemned the practice of polygamy by Christians, with Akinola going on to write "The observation [of polygamy] will destroy our witness if not firmly addressed. We cannot claim to be a Bible-believing church and yet be selective in our obedience."[13][14] Reports of Nigerian Mormons practicing polygamy have also surfaced.[15][16]

Despite the four-wife limitation, there have been numerous indications that many Nigerians bypass this law, such as with Muhammadu Bello Masaba, an 84-year-old Islamic cleric who was accused of illegal marriage due to his exceeding number of spouses, in which he had 86 wives.[17] The charges were later withdrawn by the Niger State Sharia commission, with Masaba able to retain all of his spouses.

On an opposite note, it was reported in April 2007 that a Nigerian lesbian, Aunty Maiduguri, married four women in an elaborate ceremony in Kano State, though her union is not recognized by the government, and Maiduguri and her partners were forced to go into hiding shortly after the ceremony to avoid the possible threat of being stoned if convicted for lesbianism, which results in capital punishment for married Muslim women or caning for single Muslim women in Nigerian areas under Sharia law.[18]

## Legality of polygamy by state

[edit]

### Bauchi State

[edit]

Bauchi State has been the most recent Nigerian state to legislate civil recognition of polygamous marriages for its citizens,[19] which was established after the implanting of Islamic Sharia law on July 1, 2001.

### Kwara State

[edit]

Since the introduction of Sharia law throughout northern Nigeria, various attempts have been made to implant Sharia law into the southern Kwara State, which would legalize polygamy. Polygamous unions are currently recognized under customary law throughout Nigeria, but lack numerous benefits in a Nigerian civil marriage. While civil marriage in Nigeria is monogamous, a dozen states and counting have implanted Sharia into their legal systems and thus are exempt. While the implanting of Sharia was unsuccessful, numerous Sharia courts were set up in Kwara State to serve for Muslim legal cases. Sharia has yet to be introduced to the entire state as the governing legal system.[20]

### Lagos State

[edit]

Polygamous marriages are not permitted as of 2010[update] in Lagos State, which has Nigeria's most populous city, Lagos. Attempts to introduce Sharia law in Lagos State, thereby legalizing polygamy, have been made since early 2002,[21] after a dozen of Nigeria's northern states established Sharia as the governing form of law for Muslims, but not non-Muslims, in these states. The city of Lagos currently has a Sharia court that pertains to civil and legal matters concerning Muslims in the city,[22] though the state does not recognise its rulings as binding, much like the Sharia court in the United Kingdom.

### Nasarawa State

[edit]

Currently, Nasarawa State does not provide for polygamous marriages, though the status could possibly change.[23] Since the legislation of Sharia law in a dozen of Nigeria's northern states, the debate of legislating Sharia in Nasarawa State soon entered the political arena,[24] sparking both outrage and excitement from the residents of Nasarawa State. The introduction of such a measure failed, but was revived in mid July 2005.[25]

Supporters have vowed to continue their attempts to implant Sharia into the state. The state remains one of the few states in Nigeria's north that is not governed by Sharia Law, possibly due to the large Christian population. While Sharia law is currently not implanted, there is a Sharia court that operates in the state, though pertains to Muslims only.

### Oyo State

[edit]

Since May 2002,[26] attempts have been made to implant Sharia law into the southern Oyo State, which would legalize polygamy. Polygamous unions are currently recognized under customary law throughout Nigeria, but lack numerous benefits in a Nigerian civil marriage. While civil marriage in Nigeria is monogamous, a dozen states have implanted Sharia into their legal systems and thus are exempt. While the implanting of Sharia was unsuccessful, numerous Sharia courts were set up in Oyo State to serve for Muslim legal cases. Sharia has yet to be introduced to the entire state as the governing legal system.[20]

### Plateau State

[edit]

Plateau State currently does not recognize polygamous marriages under civil law. Efforts to introduce Sharia law in Plateau State have not been successful due to strong opposition by the largely Christian population. As of 2018, Sharia law has not been implanted into the state's legal codes.

### Zamfara State

[edit]

After the adoption of Sharia Law in Zamfara State in early January 2000,[27] Zamafara State became the first state in Nigeria to allow for legal recognition of polygamous marriage under civil law, as such is practicable under Sharia, which allows for a man to take up to four wives on the account that he treats them equally. Mahmud Shinkafi, the governor of Zamfara State, has two wives.[28]

After Zamfara State established Sharia which brought about polygamy, numerous other states such as Kano State soon followed suit, thereby legalizing polygamy.[29] While the Government of Nigeria only recognizes a monogamous marriage under civil law, recognizing polygamous unions with similar benefits under customary law, states that impose Sharia are not affected by such and therefore can provide polygamy for their citizens.

## See also

[edit]

* Child marriage in Nigeria

* Religion in Nigeria
* Sharia in Nigeria

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Itoro E. Akpan-Iquot. "Traditional marriage in Nigeria: Polygamy". Migerianwomenworld.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
2. ^ "Analysis: Nigeria's Sharia split". News.bbc.co.uk. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
3. ^ "Nigeria: Family Code". Genderindex.org. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
4. ^ "Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions".
5. ^ olufemiajasa (2023-08-06). "Polygamy: What recent studies reveal!". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
6. ^ "Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions".
7. ^ "Q&A: Sharia in Zamfara State". News.bbc.co.uk. 2 September 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
8. ^ "The Unfizzled Sharia Vector in the Nigerian State". Nigerdeltacongress.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
9. ^ ’KOLA MAKINDE, ABDUL-FATAH. "THE INSTITUTION OF SHARĪ'AH IN OYOAND OSUN STATES, NIGERIA, 1890 - 2005" (PDF). sharia-in-africa. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
10. ^ None (2019-08-01). "Understanding the costs of polygamy in Nigeria". www.stearsng.com. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
11. ^ "Nigeria". Genderindex.org. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
12. ^ King, P.; Vitale, J. (2015). The Energy of Abundance: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom to Achieve Anything You Want in Life. Red Wheel/Weiser. p. 148\. ISBN 978-1-63265-993-4. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
13. ^ LibertySugar. "Polygamy Makes a Mocker of Christians". POPSUGAR Love & Sex. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
14. ^ Aluwong, Jeremiah (2021-03-13). "Discover Nigeria: The Status Of Polygamy In Nigeria". Connectnigeria Articles. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
15. ^ "HOW NIGERIAN MORMONS STARTED PRACTICING POLYGAMY IN NIGERIA". Yeyeolade.wordpress.com. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
16. ^ Aluwong, Jeremiah (2021-03-13). "Discover Nigeria: The Status Of Polygamy In Nigeria". Connectnigeria Articles. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
17. ^ "86 wives not polygamy, Nigeria rules". The New Zealand Herald. October 9, 2008. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
18. ^ "Polygamous lesbians flee Sharia". News.bbc.co.uk. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
19. ^ Okogba, Emmanuel (2017-02-05). "How Masaba died leaving behind 130 wives, 203 children". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
20. ^ a b "Sharia may spread to Kwara, Oyo". Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
21. ^ [1] Archived February 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
22. ^ "Sharia Law In Lagos". Ayobami. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
23. ^ "Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, September 1st-30th 2001 Published October 25th 2001". Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series. 38 (9): 14543–14578\. 2001. doi:10.1111/1467-825X.00139.
24. ^ "nigerdeltacongress.com". Nigerdeltacongress.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
25. ^ "Sharia reintroduced". Nasarawastate.org. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
26. ^ "Sharia law 'reaches' Nigeria' south". News.bbc.co.uk. May 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
27. ^ "Analysis: Nigeria's Sharia split". News.bbc.co.uk. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
28. ^ "12 Months, 12 Dazzling Brides, Boundless Joy!". BellaNaija. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
29. ^ "Analysis: Nigeria's Sharia split". BBC News. January 7, 2003.

* v
* t
* e

Human rights violations in Nigeria

Towards women|

* Baby factories
* Child marriage
* Child sexual abuse
* Domestic violence
* Female genital mutilation
* Gender inequality
* Girl child labour
* Human trafficking
* Polygamy
* Women

Towards LGBT|

* LGBT rights in Nigeria
* LGBT rights in Northern Nigeria
* Recognition of same-sex unions

Towards others|

* Child labour
* Confraternities

See also|

* Abortion
* Corruption
* Demographics
* Organized crime
* Sharia

* v
* t
* e

Polygamy in Africa

Sovereign states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with limited
recognition

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Dependencies and
other territories

* Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (Spain)
* Madeira (Portugal)
* Mayotte / Réunion (France)
* Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom)
* Western Sahara

* v
* t
* e

Polygamous marriage by country

Performed
legally|

| Nationwide|

* Afghanistan
* Algeria
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cameroon
* Chad
* CAR
* Comoros
* Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* India
* Polygyny
* Polyandry
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Kenya
* Kuwait
* Libya
* Maldives
* Mauritania
* Morocco
* Myanmar
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Senegal
* Singapore
* Somalia
* Sudan
* South Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Uganda
* UAE
* Yemen
* Zambia

|

Statewide|

* Iraq1
* Nigeria2
* Palestine
* Syria1

Recognized if
performed
legally abroad|

* Australia (2008)
* New Zealand (1980)
* United Kingdom (2008; welfare only)

Recognized under
customary law|

* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Equatorial Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Hong Kong (performed until 1971)
* Jordan
* Lebanon
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Malawi
* Mali
* Malaysia
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Sierra Leone
* South Africa
* Swaziland
* Zimbabwe

Other countries
and regions|

* Angola
* Benin
* Burundi
* Canada
* DR Congo
* Côte d'Ivoire
* Eritrea
* Ethiopia
* France
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Iraqi Kurdistan
* Kazakhstan
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Mauritius
* Mexico
* Mongolia
* Niue
* Russia
* Rwanda
* Sri Lanka
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Tunisia
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United States
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Malaysia

* Legal status
* Polygamy
* Polygyny
* Polyandry
* Non-monogamy
* Polygamy by country
* Marriage practice by country

* 1 Kurdish-controlled areas criminalize polygamy
* 2 Regions governed by Sharia

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template