FG - "We recognize Islamic laws but girls should be 18 before they get married"

Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan has said the Federal government recognizes Islamic laws that supports child marriage but a girl has to be at least 18 years old before she can be given out in marriage. She said this at a meeting in Abuja to launch the campaign against Child marriage in Nigeria by 2020.

"We cannot change the position of the Islamic laws especially since it is recognized in the Nigerian constitution but for the purpose of this campaign that we are launching, we are saying that to us, we agree with Islam but the child should be married when she is matured. We are saying that the age of maturity should be at least 18 years" she said