The Ministry of Interior's Citizenship and Business Department has started the inspection process for places of worship and organizations seeking the renewal of expatriate quotas in compliance with the Marriage Act, Cap 6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and the Official Gazette Notices on Marriage Nos. 64-68 dated April 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, and 16th, 2021.

This all-inclusive undertaking includes the issuing and renewing of licenses for performing statutory weddings, guaranteeing adherence to legal requirements.

Understanding the process

Please familiarize yourself with the fees connected with processing applications, Administrators, Registrars, and Representatives of Places of Worship. As stated in the Fee Details Page under the Place of Worship Section, these fees vary depending on the type of application and location.

How much are the inspection fees?

1. Out-of-State Inspections: For business organizations, public places of worship, and local government marriage registries necessitating flight and overnight stays, the inspection fee is set at N150,000.00.

2. In-State or Out-of-State Inspections (Without Flight): Inspections within the state or out-of-state that do not require flight but entail overnight stays incur a fee of N80,000.00.

3. In-State and Neighboring States Inspections: For inspections within the state or neighboring states that do not require a flight or overnight stay, the fee is set at N45,000.00.

4. Additional Fees:

   • N10,000.00 for the registration and documentation of Local Government Registrars.
   • N10,000.00 for the issuance of Certificates of Appointment for Local Government Registrars.

Procuring marriage certificates

Places of worship must get Marriage Certificates on a pre-paid basis after receiving approval. Each certificate costs N15,000 and comes in a booklet with a choice of five or twenty-five pages.

various certifications are essential for guaranteeing the validity of weddings performed in various settings.

Simplifying the payment process

Place of worship and organizations are urged to use the ecitibiz.interior.gov.ng portal to make payments easier for the aforementioned services.

This simplified method guarantees seamless transactions by improving the payment process's efficiency and transparency.

Final Thoughts

The Ministry of Interior's move to accelerate the renewal of expatriate quotas and licenses for places of worship is a clear indication of the government's commitment to maintaining legal procedures and standards.

Administrators and representatives can guarantee compliance and uphold the integrity of the licensing system by following the established standards and processes. Stakeholders are advised to get in touch with the e-CITIBIZ call center for more details and support.