The government of Zamfara State in Nigeria is reportedly planning to ''arrange husbands'' for about 2,000 widows in the state.
This was made known by the state Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajia Balkisu Bungudu.
In May last year, the Kano State government- owned Sharia police (Hisbah Borad), arranged marriages for about 100 out of an estimated 1,000 widows and divorcees in a grand ceremony witnessed by guests and spectators from the state and beyond in a scheme aimed at assisting widows, divorcees and spinsters to get married.
However, Bungudu said that as a result of this the state government had already registered 1,998 widows preparatory to marrying them off, adding that the mass wedding would be sponsored by the government.
She did not disclose the amount budgeted by the government for the marriage jamboree.
The Commissioner who spoke to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital expressed concern over the increase in the number of widows in the state.
