Wahala Dey: “We do not see men like before again” – Lagos prostitutes lament ‘okada’ ban

Sex is now added to the list of things affected by the Lagos State ban on commercial motorcycles. Who knew 'okada' riders had that much impact on the city's sexual life?
Recently some journalists went on to investigate how much an influence the ban was on commercial sex workersin Lagos. According to their report, they seemed the worst hit by the situation as no 'okada' riders spelt no customers.
"Okada riders are our biggest customers but since most of them are now out of work, they don't patronise us anymore," one said.
A report revealed a visit to three brothels within the Alausa community of Ikeja. The atmosphere in each was sombre; absent was their verve hallmark.
Esther, a prostitute in one brothel on Kadiri Street, within Alausa, told our correspondent that most of her colleagues had gone to other areas of the state like Allen Avenue, Toyin Street and Obafemi Awolowo Way, all within Ikeja, where they thought they could get more patrons.
"The brothel owners do not understand that our customers have reduced seriously," she said in pidgin English.
"Since they banned okada, we do not see men like before again," she added.
According to her, before the ban, an average prostitute in the brothel made at least N3,000 per night an average of N21,000 weekly.
"With this money, we effectively paid our rent weekly, sent money home to our aged parents and children for those of us who have, and took care of ourselves.
"But it is no longer so. We have to go out now and compete with those on the streets for customers," she lamented.
She however said she did not go out that night because she was in her menstrual cycle which usually lasted three days.
One of the sex hawkers, known as just Theresa and said she was a student of a polytechnic, she explained that for short-time, she and her colleagues just take their customers to dark corners or behind buildings "to have it done".
"If the customer has a car, then better. We just enter his car, he parks and I service him.
"That's why we wear skimpy skirts, most times with G-strings or nothing under, for easy access in the case of short-time.
"We do follow some customers home but most of us are now scared, especially at this period when we believe there are more ritualists in town."
Competition for customers has increased for these girls and they blame most of it on the ban.
Many of them say they are now forced to move to the streets and be at risk at night in desperate search for patrons instead of staying within the brothels for the customers