Bozuma announced his decision in front of a women's gathering, hinting that "his decision may not satisfy everyone," noting that "polygamy is a bad thing... Those who will argue with us, say that our religion is what said it."
According to observers, the decision will not satisfy the dreamers of polygamy in this African country known for the marriage of minors, which makes nostalgia possible for the era of his predecessor, former President Mohamed Issoufou, who had two wives. According to Sky News Arabia.
Addressing the crowd, the majority of whom were women, the Nigerian president did not hide that his speech carried a "risk." Bozuma called on his ministers - in a circulating video of a speech, which was met with warm feminist applause - to set an "example", saying: "As long as you are in my government, You are prohibited from taking an additional wife.. A minister who wants to marry another wife is not prohibited, but must leave the government.”
Bozma's decision, which did not provoke a reaction among the ministers concerned with it, caused an uproar in Nigerien public opinion, at a time when the government is seeking ways to reduce population growth in the African country, which has a population of more than 24 million people, according to World Bank statistics.
In the same speech, the Nigerian president stressed that his country "faces a real demographic problem that represents a major obstacle to the country's development," citing statistics about the dangers of unbridled demographic growth.
"This community, or at least more than half of it, believes that a man has the right to be violent and to abuse and beat his wife if she does not do what he wants," said Abu Bakri Tal, a UNICEF member in Niger.
He added, "It is not uncommon for girls to escape or commit suicide after marriage in countries that have recorded global rates of minor marriage," noting that "education protects girls from forced marriage, the longer a girl stays in school, the later she gets married, and the educational qualification is raised their chances of financial independence.
He continued, "Although the president's decision sparked controversy in the street, it may be a positive step that will result in a new law that prohibits polygamy and limits the marriage of underage girls in the country."
He added, "In Niger, there are many families who view marrying off their daughters at an early age as a way to relieve the financial pressure on these families in light of the low living situation.
Some families also see that girls' marriage at an early age may provide them with a more stable life." And the American newspaper "Washington Post" says that 76 percent of Niger girls become brides before they reach the age of eighteen, which is the highest rate of child marriage in the world.
With the spread of the Corona epidemic, the number of underage marriage increased, and UNICEF expected that the long-term effects of the epidemic, resulting from school closures and increasing economic hardship, would push about 10 million more girls to marry before the end of the current decade.
Parents in Niger tend to prioritize education for boys, who are seen as future breadwinners, making girls more likely to drop out of school.
More than a quarter of girls marry before the age of 15, despite breaking the country's law, according to the American newspaper.
