Hello Everyone,

I am currently in London visiting my fiance. We are having such a nice time here and I cannot believe the beauty of the 'royal' buildings, etc... We have walked the London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Westminster Bridge.....We have enjoyed the great train and subway system too. No one really needs a car living in London. But WOW is it an expensive place to live compared to where I come from.

I have also enjoyed meeting all of my fiance's friends. He is Nigerian, and so are most of his friends. Been enjoying some great food and really having good cultural conversations too.

One friend to me of a registry marriages in Lagos, I am also wondering if any of you have heard of this:

He told of how many Nigerians are able to pay bribes to the workers at the Lagos (and other) registries, and have them print out fake marriage licenses. Many, he says, are doing this before leaving for the UK and Europe, and it helps them gain higher wages (just as we do when we claim dependents on our W2's - but honestly).

Although my fiance has also said this is happening all of the time, I was just wondering how many of you (if any) have heard of this being done.

It is a shame how easily it is for some to be able to be bribed, but even myseld during my month-long stay last Summer in Nigeria witnessed bribery all of the time.

My question is specifically concerning the marriage license bribery, however. Thanks for your input.

I am not surprised, stuff like that happens there all the time. There is nothing you can not get with money over there.

Many are able to do that overseas. I have seen it done when one person gets a green card or wins the lottery. You can also easily get a degree from the university the same way also.

I had not heard of this, but I am not suprised.

I've not heard of it, but it also does not suprise me in the least, I bet it is done all the time.

When I was in Nigeria, Joseph wanted to check out getting married there ,so we went to the registry in Lagos. The lady that ran the books and one of the guards were Igbo so they really talked to us a lot. There were some things that could be short cut a bit. Like the required time to apply in advance and exactly what proof of ID they used. I think this was mostly like when you apply here you can use a birth certificate or a passport. But there was a big board where they post pictures of international couples along with wedding info.She indicated that the embassy comes by about once a week and will often ask to inspect the file for couples. They always match up pictures from what I was told. So I imagine you can buy fake liciences there but they might not stand up to inspection.

Holy CRAP, they have their claws all over the place.

I remember when we were deciding where to get married, my husband went out of his way and paid a lot extra to go to a registry that he believed was more approved of in the eyes of the embassy. He was afraid they wouldn't accept the validity unless it was from particular registries.

Here's an interesting thing that happened though. While he was there inquiring about their prices, he met with a Nigerian man and his British wife as well as a Nigerian couple. The nigerian couple's fee was quoted as being something like $50 (I don't remember exactly), they wanted to charge the British/Nigerian couple around $150 and they charged my husband $250 because I'm american! I thought that was such a scam, now I wonder if we had to pay more to compensate for the hassle they get from the American embassy. We got married at Lagos Island City Hall.

I have rather strange memories of visiting the place. Chickens running about outside the door. The little place that sold rings and phone cards. The tiny office with the books and a couple ahead of us with a little timy Nigerian man and this white woman that barely fit in the office and not in the chair fussing about every single thing. The weather the seats the lighting her hair her clothes. We all giggled and remaked that he must be hard of hearing to listen to her.

I am not suprised at all either.
I remember as well we had to pay a ridiculous amount because I am american. I think it was more than $250 though,by the time you pay the registry, we had to buy wine and juice for the staff, we were asked for a tip from everyone we came in contact with even the ones that didn't help us at all. Then we were asked again for money after the ceremony. I remember my husband buying me this beautiful pink bouquet to hold when we were married. He bought it from the registry. After the ceremony and we were finished taking pics they wanted the bouquet back. I was furious!!!!!!!!!!
They said we only rented it for our ceremony but it must be returned. They seemed to have left that part out when my husband gave them the money for it. We were married at the Federal Registry in Ikoyi, Lagos
I thought the bride and groom were supposed to be receiving gifts and money?

I have heard of this, my ex-husband told me several times that as long as u have the money to pay, u can get almost anything.

It is always Nigerians and Nigerians-wanna-bes that would always have something negative about the place; even some people jilted by their Nigerian love. If you don't have anything good to say about the place, leave it alone..I don't see people from other parts of the world on this site attacking their countries like this.

Nigeria is a place of great beauty but it is also a country fill of corruption. It is simply how it is. I am not sure any of us are want to be Nigerians. Most of us are in love with a person that happens to have been born there. With the country being what it is at the moment I don't think any of us intend to make it our primary home. Over time maybe the conditions will change. I notice you also are in the US and not Nigeria. I am sure there are posts in some of the other regional groups that talk to bad government or conditions. I just don't usually read Asia or South America.

What's wrong with a discussion on the topic of marriage license bribery? I'm not surprised that there is that kind of thing going on since it is common in Africa. You pay extra money to certain people to get certain things done. I'm enjoying reading the ceremony stories.

I agree! We are just sharing experiences not bashing. I am sure everyone from every country has a story to tell.

Oh yes, I've heard some cases of major bribery right around the corner in Liberia....and Ghana, lol.

Lets not get started on what you can pay to get in Ghana

I am convinced that if you wanted to buy the whole country there is someone who will make it happen for the right price.

Actually let me break in right here, there are quite a few of us here looking to relocate to nigeria. I am an American married to a Nigerian and I will be relocating this year. I love the country , culture and the lack of stress in general. Sure there are some problems there but such is life I dont think there is a place on this planet or universe that wont have some down side. I feel it is all about a person being willing to compromise and accept new things. As I stated before thats just my lil 2cents

Felshen,



I know your probably excited about your new journey, so much to do and prepare before making that move. I wanted to give you this nigerwivesnigeria.com from what I understand about it, it's a club for wives from other countries living in Nigeria.