It is a well established principle of customary law in Nigeria that the payment of bride price is an essential ingredient of a valid customary law marriage. The term 'bride price' is often used interchangeably in Nigeria with 'dowry

". . . any gift or payment, in money, natural produce, brass rods, cowries or in any other kind of property whatsoever, to a parent or guardian of a female person on account of a marriage of that person which is intended or has taken place"
Is the term 'dowry' equivalent to the term 'price"? or 'purchase price' of an article: is a single sum payable (even if by installments to the owner or owners of the article .... Dowry on the other hand, is not, usually a single or simple sum like a price. Dowry in a customary law

marriage is the total of the various absolutely necessary sums or fees which must be paid by the prospective husband either at different stages and or for different heads or purposes to seal the marriage agreement between the parties and their families Quite often a payment for one purpose cannot be considered or even discussed until payment has been made for another purpose which is regarded as a necessary prior step in the ladder of the marriage agreement. As the marriage (or even further discussion about it) cannot take place without payment of the various purposes or heads, these payments become a sine qua non in a customary marriage transaction.

Whether bride price takes the form of a gift or payment depends on the customary law of each locality. Historically, bride price took the form of labour provided by the suitor for the parents of his wife-to-be. Such labour was rendered in addition to a small cash payment and drinks. But with the advent of modern cash economy, bride price took the predominant form of money payment. At the same time, payment in other forms of property became a rare occurrence.

There is no uniformity of the rules governing the quantum of bride price throughout Nigeria. It varies from one locality to another. Even within a state, the differences may be profound. For instance, in Anambra State, Onitsha town is a known area of low bride price which is about forty Naira. On me other hand, Awka and environs are known for high bride price which may range in hundreds of Naira. Incidents of high-bride price in parts of Nigeria have been criticized for causing social ills particularly in preventing young men who cannot afford the large sums of money demanded by parents of bride-to-be from getting married. Similarly, frustrated young women may be tempted to indulge in unmoral associations.

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