Economic struggles force Lagos sex workers to keep prices steady
Commercial sex workers in Lagos have revealed that they have not increased their rates, despite Nigeria’s current economic challenges, to accommodate their clients’ financial struggles.
The workers say the economic downturn has not only affected their income but has also driven away many customers, forcing them to maintain affordable pricing to attract any business.
Nneka Neli, a sex worker operating in the Egbeda-Igando area, shared her reasons for keeping her rates steady. “I’ve kept my charges affordable for my customers. Some of them have even stopped coming because of the current economic situation in the country,” she explained. Neli charges between N20,000 and N25,000 for overnight services and N15,000 for a shorter session. However, she admitted that business has significantly slowed, with fewer clients seeking her services.
“Everywhere is now dry. We no longer have the rush of customers on Sundays like we used to. In this lodge, I pay N8,000 every day. Yesterday, I hadn’t even paid yet, and I need to hustle to cover it. The economy is affecting me.”
Peace, another sex worker along LASU Road, expressed similar concerns. “This economy hasn’t been good to me. It’s just suffering and smiling. I need to stick to my prices to get any business. Two hours costs N25,000; a quickie is N15,000, and the whole night is N30,000,” she stated. Despite these prices being negotiable, Peace noted that the reduced demand has impacted her earnings significantly.
Dolapo Abiodun, a pimp, confirmed that his workers have also kept their rates unchanged to remain competitive. He explained, “If I call any of these girls to work for you now for N5,000, she won’t turn you down.
They don’t believe they’ll get customers; they don’t even stay out at night anymore. Some of them are returning to their villages because of the economic situation. Our customers don’t even come with cars anymore due to the high cost of fuel.”
According to Abiodun, the economic downturn has affected the broader informal sector, forcing workers like his to adjust expectations and practices to stay afloat. “Girls that I used to offer for N10,000 are now being priced as low as N1,000 or N1,500 because there’s no patronage. The economy has affected everything. These girls don’t have customers anymore,” he said.
This situation reflects the widespread impact of Nigeria’s economic hardships on various sectors. Rising inflation, increased fuel costs, and high living expenses have not only affected formal employment but have also created significant challenges for those in informal sectors like commercial sex work. As a result, workers across industries are feeling the need to adapt to remain viable in an increasingly difficult economic environment.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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