Ado Sa'id, the chief of Kera village in north-west Nigeria, said that a groom should pay 137,000 naira ($377, £294) directly to a bride's parents before the wedding.

This is instead of the old custom of the groom giving presents like furniture and kitchen ware to the bride's family.

The chief told me that the bride price levy was cheaper and intended to make it easier to get married.

He said that it was implemented after consultation with villagers, but parents deny this.

But villagers feel that under the previous custom grooms had time to buy gifts - not all at once.

One villager, Isah Kera, said the new rule had forced some couples out of the village to go and get married elsewhere.

Another villager, Sani Kera said he had five children who were ready for marriage, but the bride price levy had made them suspend their plans.