We Now Charge 500 Naira For Short Time Due To Subsidy Removal – Commercial Sex Workers Lament

 

The economic crunch occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy has grossly affected commercial sex workers in Kano State as they have been complaining about low patronage by their customers.

They expressed their pains while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sabon Gari area of Fagge Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, August 27.

The sex workers in the ancient commercial city, who hitherto smile home with their pockets full, now resort to lobbying customers to do “business” with them at very ridiculous low charges.

Ms Mercy Benjamin told NAN that before now, a round of “short time” service could be settled with N5,000 within a time frame of one hour, but the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal had forced customers to disappear.

Benjamin said one round of sex now goes for as low as between N500 and N700 for the same services.

“Things are not really going on well with this business for now because of the present economic challenges we are facing,” she said.

Another sex worker who identified herself as Jennifer, told NAN that it is no longer business as usual for them, saying “my brother, business is no longer moving as it used to be.

“Things have become so hard that if you see more than three customers in one day, you will thank God. Customers are hard to come by, and when they come, the offer is nothing to write home about.

“In this very particular room, I pay N5,000 every day; and I must confess to you that I am owing the management three days debt now because of low patronage

“Before fuel subsidy removal, we were enjoying high patronage with good prices. These days, I used to attend to seven to 10 customers everyday with good prices ranging between N5,000 and N10,000 for short time services.

“This is apart from other incentives like good food, drinks, chicken, Isi-ewu and other goodies that customers provide on their own volition,”

“Unlike now when customers hardly come to hang out in the evening, we used to have customers on day-break ready to offer well above N20,000 and also take care of your accommodation, food and drinks. This is really hardtimes for us,” she said.