Insecurity: Niger government moves to ban sex workers

The Niger State Government is to ban activities of commercial sex workers in Minna as part of efforts to tackle insecurity.

Kaltum Rufa’i, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

Ms Rufa’i said that the government was unaware of such unwholesome activity capable of fuelling the current security challenges in the state.

She said there are state laws against such activity, and the government would investigate it to stop the ugly trend.

“Now that you have brought the issue to our notice, the government will swing into action.

“I will personally go and meet the Secretary to the State Government to discuss the issue and find solutions to it,” she said.

Sex workers

NAN investigations within Minna revealed that the women and girls start their business from 7p.m. to midnight daily.

Their best spots to attract clients in Minna include the City gate round-about, the Eastern by-pass, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega filling station, Minna.

The women typically hang out in groups of two, three, four, five and above, waiting for their clients.

Some of them who spoke to NAN and did not want their names mentioned said they usually charge from N1,000 to N10,000, depending on the kind of service required.

“Our clients pay for hotel accommodations from N1,000 to N3,000 for a short time and from N5,000 to N8,000 for all-night service,” one of them told NAN.

Some sex workers said they ventured into the trade out of frustration or lack of jobs.

One said, “I have to use what I have to help myself.”

(NAN)