The Nigerian wedding industry, which is considered one of the major contributors to the country’s economy, has been paused by the raging coronavirus.

The multi-million dollar industry, according to a market research group, TNS Global, has been revealed as one of the industries badly affected by the

lockdown, which is occasioned by the move to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The last 10 Saturdays – a day symbolized with hosting wedding parties – have come and gone without Nigeria playing host to several wedding parties.

The industry, which was created from Nigeria’s love for lavish wedding parties, has players lamenting on the stop of business in the last three months.

The industry has suffered a major loss which runs into several millions of Dollars.

With a Nigerian wedding costing at least between $9,460 and $13,515 and guest lists running up to 1000 in some cases, players in the industry are lamenting and counting their losses as a result of coronavirus.

Corroborating the claim in an interview with CNN, top event planner and CEO of Zapphaire Events said, “You can have five million Naira ($13,869.65) at one end of the spectrum, 20 million Naira ($55,478.60) in the middle and it can even get as high as 100 million Naira ($277,393).”

The industry, run by its components that include fashion designers, event planners, caterers, MCs, events decor, makeup artists, luxury toilet hire companies, and musicians, have been challenged and overwhelmed by COVID-19.

A makeup artist with Kay’s Beauty lamented on how COVID-19 has badly affected her income. “It’s been a tough time in the last three months. I make good and rapid sales at weddings. Aside from getting the big chunk of the deal which is when I have to do bridal make – brides and bridal trains – I also miss out on the side makeups at weddings, burials, and birthdays. Sometimes, I make close to N30,000 as side makeup at these events while bridal makes up can be as much as N250,000 per bride. Coronavirus has really affected my income and sales,” Kay’s Beauty owner says.

The demand and sales of communal fabrics known as Aso Ebi – a major force in the planning of high octane soirees, weddings, birthdays, and burials seem to have gone with the wind.

“What’s the need of an Aso Ebi if more than 20 people or 50 people can not gather to merry or celebrate? The essence of Aso Ebi is mainly in the uniformed outlook it serves when we all put it on and with less than 20 people, the purpose would have been defeated,” Tawakalitu Junaid, a fabrics merchant in Oshodi says. “No one is patronising fabrics sellers. Have you seen people gather together at an event? Even Easter was done in people’s homes without the usual party style. The coronavirus has dealt with the market badly.”

Entertainment, mainly powered by music – mostly bands – and an integral part of the Nigerian wedding industry has not been left out of the hit. For popular wedding bands SBLive Band to Akin Shuga and Eboni Live Band, the story is the same.

Just as the bands complain, the Master of Ceremonies, MCs, and comedians, who also benefit from the wedding industry are also some of the practitioners complaining of the hit from coronavirus.

Most of the MCs and Bands have resorted to connecting with fans on social media at no cost. Koffi da Guru, a wedding MC, and comedian revealed how some shows he was looking forward to were canceled as a result of the pandemic.