By Awaal Gata
Against the backdrop of the ban on prostitution in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the trade is fast becoming less lucrative.
The Social Development Secretariat of the FCT, headed by Mrs Blessing Onuh has launched full scale war to rid the city of commercial sex workers. The clamp down on the trade is beginning to yield results. Places that were hitherto, considered red light districts are gradually turning to something more decent and the operators of the market are fast disappearing. The few daring prostitutes who still muster the courage to flaunt their trade in the open are not finding the FCT counter business funny either.
Prior to the new clampdown spearheaded Mrs Onuh, many residents silently groaned under the illegality that threatened the moral peace of the city. Prostitutes took over virtually every major district in the city. Places once tagged ‘no-go areas’ were besieged by these women.
None of the highbrow spots of the city in Utako, Maitama, Asokoro, Apo, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Karu, Garki, Wuse and several other districts is left out of the contagion of sex trade. The infamous Gimbya Street in Area 11 and the popular Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II are most times likened to the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. Illegal sexual activities ranging from sex on the street to utter sexual harassment thrive in these places.
However, the renewed onslaught on Abuja residents by these commercial sex workers has rescinded in many parts. When Abuja Metro visited some of the places that were hitherto nicknamed red light districts, the few prostitutes seen were too timid to come out in the open. Rather than stand in the full glare of street lights, they now resort to blind spots where they covertly call out to their patrons.
In Wuse II, particularly Aminu Kano and Ademola Adetokumbo, activities of prostitutes have rescinded. Prostitutes who that dress half nude to lure the attention of drivers and other road users are gradually phasing out.
Determined to get a prostitute’s perspective on the fast decline of commercial sex activities in Wuse II and other major districts, Abuja Metro approached one of the call girls as a potential client. She gave her fake name as Gucci. Since the night was still young and clients were not forthcoming yet, the prostitute was not in a hurry to discharge the client.
“E be like say market dey bad for plenty Abuja prostitutes,” Abuja Metro enquired in pidgin English. “Why e be say na very few girls dey do this your work now for this area?”
“Wetin you want make the girls do as FCT madam don order him boys to ensure say all the prostitutes vanish from Abuja streets?” the prostitute fired back. “Every night, FCT people dey patrol all these places. If them catch you, na to carry you go their centre. Some of us wey still dey come here, na big risk, because dem don warn us say we go go jail if we no vacate Abuja streets.”
Determined to reintegrate prostitutes that have genuinely ‘repented’ back to the mainstream, the FCT administration through the Social Development Secretariat set up two training and rehabilitation camps in Lugbe and Bwari. Mrs Onuh who spearheads the training and empowerment of the women recently revealed that over 3,000 of the girls have graduated from training and rehabilitation at the centres since 2010.
Onuh said: “Commercial sex workers have an association and we have met with them. They said their problem was economic hardship. We train and counsel them. We give each N100,000 after training. But to effectively tackle their case, we need the NGOs to assist. It was a godly mission, rehabilitating these girls. Many of them were in the trade just to keep body and soul together. The centre gave them a new lease of life and they can now hold their heads up high as responsible citizens of Nigeria.
Within the last three years, Mrs. Onuh said: “The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, on assumption of office approved the establishment of the Women Rehabilitation Centre, Sabon Lugbe to provide vocational skills to repentant sex workers. The Center has so far graduated over 3,000 vulnerable women since its inception.
“Just recently, 194 trainees graduated from the two centers with each of them receiving N100,000 as support from government to enable them start businesses. I am proud to say that most of those that have been trained are doing well in their trades. The secretariat recently concluded the training of about 90 women beggars at the Karonmajiji settlement. The women were registered in cooperatives groups and given monetary assistance by the Secretariat.”
The renewed efforts to rid Abuja of prostitutes might have recorded some commendable feats. Observers and residents however believe that more needs to be done. In their opinion, the existing laws that prohibit prostitution need to be strengthened to complement the efforts of relevant government agencies, party the FCT Social Development Secretariat. They believe with strong laws, activities of commercial sex workers can be checked.
More so, observers equally believe that more funds need to be devoted to training and rehabilitation of prostitutes.
