N2.5bn budget: Mass wedding has no economic benefits to Kano — Buhari’s ex-aide

Bashir Ahmad, an ex-aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has criticised the Kano State government’s allocation of N2.5 billion for mass weddings, questioning its economic impact on the state and its nearly 20 million taxpayers.

Tribune Online reports that the Kano State government, a few days ago, committed N2.5 billion in 2025 to continue its tradition of quarterly mass weddings across all 44 local government areas.

According to the government, the initiative, aimed at curbing illicit affairs, targets widows, widowers, divorced individuals, and financially struggling couples, helping them get remarried or find new spouses.

Ahmad expressed his concerns in a post on X on Tuesday while reacting to a tweet from user Shamsudeen Musa, who defended the policy by comparing it to the Lagos cultural festivals.

He tweeted, “Haba Baba, this shouldn’t have come from you, wallahi. Did you know that Lagos Cultural Week is more than just traditional performances? It is a strategic investment with substantial economic and socio-cultural benefits. Didn’t you see that the event could attract Yoruba people and international tourists to Lagos, and generate billions in revenue through accommodation, dining, and other local activities?” 

He argued that public funds should be directed towards projects that promote development and investment, insisting that cultural practices must not take precedence over economic sustainability.

“It is within our constitutional rights to hold our leaders accountable, particularly when funding projects that may not drive development and investment.

“And this is a question for you, @babarh_, what economic benefits would the mass weddings bring to Kano and its nearly 20 million taxpayers in the short or long term?”

Musa, in a post he tweeted in Hausa language, defended the Kano State government’s decision, highlighting that the initiative aligns with the state’s cultural values and serves a social purpose.

“Every society has certain cultural practices it holds in high regard. For us, marriage is important, which is why the Kano State government under Abba Kabir Yusuf is investing money in it,” he wrote.

He also compared Kano’s spending to that of Lagos State, which reportedly allocated N4 billion in 2024 to a festival celebrating Yoruba cultural heritage.

“In Lagos State, 4 billion naira was spent on a festival of entertainment and music celebrating Yoruba Cultural Heritage in 2024, while Abba Kabir’s government focused on ensuring that the Tiga Hydropower Plant became operational that same year. The amount Lagos spent on festivities is nearly double the 2 billion naira Kano allocated for the Auren Gata initiative, yet Lagos spent it on entertainment.

“If Kano had spent 4 billion naira on a festival, you would have been all over the place with ‘Lagos-Lagos.’”

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