Residents worried over increasing commercial sex workers’ nuisance in Abuja

By Adeleye Kunle

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have expressed concern over the public nuisance being caused by commercial sex workers, popularly called ‘Olosho’ who are in every part of the city.

Recall that some officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in May 2019 raided a popular nightclub and arrested several female nude dancers.

Track News observed that over the years, the level of commercial sex work in Abuja has continued to skyrocket despite the law prohibiting such activities.

Residents, who lamented the ugly trend, said most of the ladies involved in the commercial sex activities are underage girls who were trafficked into the territory from different States.

Track News reports that underage prostitution and the operation or ownership of brothels are penalized under sections 223, 224, and 225 of the Nigerian Criminal Code.

This may not be unconnected to the reason why officials of the FCTA on September 17, 2020 demolished a popular brothel, Chris Garden and Guest Inn, at Dakibiu, Jabi, a suburb of the territory.

Chris Garden was a drinking shop, and also arguably one of the biggest – and perhaps oldest – sex centres in Abuja, a place where men and women converge to exchange sex and money.

There are still many brothels operating across the territory disguised as mere drinking joints. Most of the all-night bars have apartments attached to it where men of different demographics meet ladies for sexual pleasures.

More worrisome are places in Kubwa, Dutse Alhaji, Gwarimpa, Wuse Zone 4, Garki II, Mpape, and Utako.

In Kubwa, aside the already existing hotels, trending in that part of Abuja is the conversion of houses meant for residential purposes to hotels. There are few streets in Kubwa without two or more hotels.

Similarly, the presence of beer palours, lounges have greatly encouraged the business of commercial sex