Arrangements have reached an advanced stage for the marriage ceremony of nine children of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

An invitation card for the event, which has been widely circulated on social media, was sighted by our correspondent on Saturday. According to the invitation, the wedding ceremonies will take place at the Abuja Central Mosque by 1:30pm on February 6.

The invitation card, which bears the minister’s photograph, listed the names of the children as Ibrahim, Suraj, Safiya, Maryam, Aisha, Fahad, Muh’d, Nana Firdausi and Farida.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris, told Sunday PUNCH that the nine children consist of five sons and four daughters.

“By the grace of God, the wedding ceremony will be conducted at the Abuja Central Mosque on February 6. The minister’s children who are getting married are five sons and four daughters,” Idris said.

He added that preparations for the event were in top gear, noting that he is a member of the organising committee.

“I am among the committee members for this great occasion, and as I speak to you now, arrangements have reached an advanced stage to ensure a smooth ceremony in Abuja next month,” he added.