‘Abuja’s Booming Sex Business: How The Babes Trap Big Men,’   

Published on August 16, 2010 by TheNEWS   ·   No Comments

I believe one of the reasons why you guys wrote the cover story on the activities of prostitutes in Abuja, apart from projecting the bad sides of the trade, is for government to find ways to stop it (‘Abuja’s Booming Sex Business: How The Babes Trap Big Men,’ TheNEWS, 9 August 2010 edition). I don’t believe, however, that prostitution, the oldest trade in the world, can be stopped. There is no country where government has been able to stop prostitution completely. Aside this, considering the level of poverty in the country, ladies who are into prostitution  and make good money from it, will go to any length to reach their targeted customers. Come to think of it, who will stop prostitution? Certainly not those in government—customers to the prostitutes.
Babatunde Orimolade,
Ikeja, Lagos.

Prostitution is not limited to Abuja. The business thrives in other Nigerian cities. It is, however, more pronounced out there in Abuja because the bulk of those who make easy money, those who have enough to throw away, either live there or go there to do one business or another. And while they are away from their families, they either choose to or are nudged into patronising these ladies. It is these men that harlots sell their bodies to for quick money. To me, any legislation or other attempts to put an end to glorified prostitute ‘runs’, as your magazine tagged their actions, will not work. It will only amount to a sheer waste of time and resources.
Gloria Peters,
Port-Harcourt.

Your cover story on the activities of prostitutes in Abuja was quite an amusing piece to read. I must say you guys really painted the true picture of what is going on in Abuja. I am not surprised anyway, that the bulk of our lawmakers are their customers. They have enough time to waste and free money to throw around. I think it is high time Nigerians began to ask our lawmakers if running after prostitutes is part of legislating.
Festus Ogbeche,
Makurdi.

The prevalence of prostitution in Abuja, as reported by your magazine is really  sad. Various governments over the years have failed the masses. Each has achieved nothing but promote poverty in Nigeria. Prostitution and other social vices—kidnapping, armed robbery,  internet fraud and so on––will continue to thrive for as long as  poverty reigns in Nigeria and only the rich are getting richer. Some women will readily take to prostitution because it is the easiest way they can make money.
Ibukun Olagunju,
Osogbo.

I am always very sad whenever I read about how our young female undergraduates go from state to state, city to city, selling their bodies for the fun of it or to enable them to pay their way through school. Do they ever sit and ponder over the actions they take? When they eventually graduate and then get married, what sort of legacy, moral or otherwise, would they pass on to their female children? When they do have female children, such children will sell their bodies too to make money. Is this how things should be?
Titilayo Balogun,
Ilorin.

Capital cities of most countries are known for all kinds of social vices and Abuja cannot be an exception. However, what is worrying is the high level of prostitution going on there. To me, it is because successive Nigerian governments continue to promote abject poverty. It is even sadder that Nigerian lawmakers are the ones promoting this illicit business. They are so important to the success of these women in prostitution that the ladies pay as much as N250,000 to get their phone numbers. Maybe Nigerian legislators need a big pay cut. When that is done,  maybe the business will no longer be lucrative to those prostitutes who today see Abuja as a goldmine.
Monica Ezekwe,
Abuja.

Sex for money is about the oldest business in the world. That the business booms in Abuja is because many big time businessmen and Nigerian lawmakers live there. The sad aspect of the whole scenario is that most of the so-called ‘Big Babes’ who run after these men use fetish means to trap their prospective customers and get them to part with their money. The question most people are asking, I believe, is “How can this scandalous act be checked?” To me, there is nothing anyone or government can do to stop it.
Rukayat Aminu,
Jos.

The increasing number of people going into prostitution and other social vices is a sign of the End Time. As a matter of fact, more will be involved. Have you not noticed that mothers and daughters struggle to ensnare the same men these days? Have you not noticed also that some fathers and sons pursue the same women? That mothers and daughters are running after the same men is a result of poverty. TheNEWS really did well to expose the libidinous activities of  Nigerian lawmakers and other government officials. It is sad that many of these lawmakers have no regard for their office.
Patience Nwankwo,
Agege.

That prostitutes are all over Abuja is understandable. That is where money flows in Nigeria. Let’s just say everything has moved to the Federal Capital. The head of government, parastatals, corporate offices and of course the so-called ‘Big Babes’ who run after them for money are resident in Abuja.  But it is wrong to assume that it is only in Abuja that prostitution thrives. Go to the state capitals and see what is going on there.
Callistus Nwakpa,
Aba.

Reading your piece, one is wont to shout “Apple”. That is probing the minds of those of us who got to know that an Indian lady reportedly gave a poisoned apple to our former dictator, the late Sani Abacha, to eat, which resulted in his death. I agree with you that most of the so-called ‘Big Babes’ use fetish means to trap their prospective customers. There have been cases of men who got duped while unconscious. I really do not blame the babes as it takes two to tango. If they are not encouraged by their customers, they will not see prostitution as a profession.
Michael Azubuike,
Abuja.

Frustration, resulting from unemployment and poverty, is one of  the major reasons young ladies go into prostitution in Nigeria. Another reason is greed. Ladies who want to get rich quick go into prostitution and they employ diabolical means. But one cannot blame them too much, as we live in a society where money excuses people from guilt and shame. As long as bad governance continues to reign supreme in Nigeria and there is rampant unemployment, the great majority of our girls and desperate ladies/women will continue to go into prostitution no matter what you write about the trade.
Eunice Ogunkoya,
Abeokuta.

Agreed, prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world. But there is no place in the world where it has been accepted fully as a profession, not even in the United States of America. It has become even more important to do everything possible to dissuade people from going into it as HIV/AIDS has become rampant. What is disheartening about the scenario in Nigeria, however, is the fact that our lawmakers, those who should be against it vehemently, are the ones promoting the trade by patronising these women of easy virtue. Therefore, no one should expect the great majority of them to come out publicly to condemn or even legislate against the activities of their customers.
Tola Ajibona,
Akure.

I believe that those following political trends in the country will not be surprised that a good number of Nigerian lawmakers are patronising Abuja prostitutes. These lawmakers have more than enough easy cash at their disposal. They do not know what else to do with their money other than to patronise these scarlet ladies. What a shame, in a country where there is so much poverty and less privileged people—widows and orphans––beg to be helped.
Fehintola Sowunmi,
Ijegun.

Prostitution thrives in Nigeria because the society encourages it. When people get rich overnight and the society does not question them, it will look proper to ambitionless people to use illicit means to source for money. Therefore, many ladies will not see anything wrong in selling their bodies to make money. To me, men are to blame for the prevalence of prostitution because if they do not patronise these women they would look for more dignifying ways to make money. To curb the trade, there should be stiff penalties for those who sell and those who buy sex.
Dolapo Sobowale,
Ilesha.

It is unbelievable the extent to which some ladies can go just to make money. Imagine the young lady who said Italian guys are real good in bed because they make use of their hands by thrusting them into her vagina. One day this same lady would want to get married. What will the would-be husband meet, considering her recklessness?
Femi Adewale,
Minna.

Prostitution is not new in Abuja. But it has become a social problem because more young women now seek solace in it. The only way to stop it is for politicians, top civil servants and captains of industry to provide jobs for the youths instead of sleeping  with them.
Bidemi Adediwura,
Osogbo.