Is prostitution legal in Ijebu-Ode?
No, prostitution is illegal throughout Nigeria, including Ijebu-Ode. Under Sections 223-225 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act, soliciting, operating brothels, or living off prostitution earnings are criminal offenses punishable by fines or imprisonment. Police conduct periodic raids in areas like Ita-Osu and Folagbade Street where street-based sex work occurs. Enforcement is inconsistent though, with officers sometimes accepting bribes to ignore activities.
The legal stance stems from Nigeria’s conservative religious values, with both Islamic Sharia law (in northern states) and Christian morality influencing national legislation. Despite this, the trade persists due to economic desperation and limited enforcement resources. Sex workers operate in legal gray zones – some pose as hotel “guests” while others work discreetly in bars along Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu Road. Recent debates by groups like Women’s Health and Equal Rights propose decriminalization to reduce police violence and improve health interventions.
What drives prostitution in Ijebu-Ode?
Extreme poverty and unemployment are primary catalysts. With youth unemployment at 45% in Ogun State, many women enter sex work as survival strategy. A 2022 SWAN (Sex Workers Association of Nigeria) survey found 68% of Ijebu-Ode sex workers cited “feeding children” as their main motivation.
Other factors include:
- Educational barriers: 72% lack secondary education, limiting job options
- Rural migration: Women from villages like Oke-Ako relocate seeking income
- Widowhood stigma: Cultural rejection of unmarried women over 30
- Trafficking: Brothels near motor parks exploit migrants from Benin Republic
Clients range from truckers at Ojofa Motor Park to students from Tai Solarin University. Economic desperation often overrides legal risks – a street worker earns ₦2,000-₦5,000 per client versus ₦30,000 monthly minimum wage.
What health risks do sex workers face?
STI prevalence is catastrophic without protection. A 2023 study by Ijebu-Ode General Hospital found 41% of tested sex workers had gonorrhea or chlamydia, while HIV rates (18%) triple the national average. Limited condom access and client resistance to usage drive this crisis.
Why don’t condoms solve the problem?
Many clients offer double payment for unprotected sex. Brothel workers report clients paying ₦10,000 vs ₦5,000 for condom use – impossible to refuse when supporting children. Stigma also deters clinic visits; nurses at Ijebu-Ode General are known to shame sex workers seeking STI tests.
Other dangers include:
- Violence: 63% report physical assault monthly per SWAN
- Pregnancy: Limited abortion access leads to unsafe procedures
- Substance abuse: Tramadol and codeine used to endure work
Organizations like Hearts of Gold NGO conduct discreet condom distributions and mobile testing at hotspots like Sabo market weekly.
How does religion influence prostitution here?
Islamic and Christian conservatism fuels stigma but fails to curb demand. Ijebu-Ode’s population is 60% Muslim, 40% Christian, with both religions condemning prostitution. Yet religious hypocrisy manifests in clients including mosque leaders and church deacons according to anonymous brothel workers.
Churches like Cathedral Church of Our Saviour run “rescue programs” offering vocational training, but require public repentance that deters participation. Pentecostal “deliverance prayers” for sex workers attract media attention but rarely provide sustainable alternatives. Some women attend midnight services at Celestial Church to pray for protection while continuing work.
Where can sex workers find support?
Few local NGOs offer non-judgmental assistance. The Ogun State Ministry of Women’s Affairs runs a skills acquisition center teaching tailoring and soap-making, but quotas limit spaces. More effective are:
Which organizations actually help?
Ijebu-Ode Sex Workers Health Initiative (IOSWHI): Provides anonymous STI testing and contraceptives through a network of 12 pharmacy partners. Their discreet clinic near Oyingbo Market treats 50+ workers weekly.
Women of Hope Platform: Offers micro-loans of ₦50,000-₦100,000 for small businesses like food stalls. Exit programs require 6 months participation with 73% success rate among graduates.
What about police exploitation?
Extortion is rampant. Officers routinely demand ₦20,000 “bail” during arrests without charges. IOSWHI distributes emergency phone cards to contact their legal aid partners at Citizens’ Justice Network. Recording police interactions on phones has reduced brutality incidents by 31% since 2021.
Can prostitution be reduced in Ijebu-Ode?
Economic interventions show most promise. When the state government funded 200 market stalls for vulnerable women in 2022, 65% of recipients left sex work within a year. Sustainable solutions require:
- Vocational hubs: Expanding training beyond Lagos Road center
- Childcare support: 89% cite children as barrier to formal jobs
- Client penalties: Sweden-style laws targeting buyers
- Education: Scholarships for sex workers’ daughters
Meanwhile, harm reduction remains critical. Health workers like Dr. Femi Adebayo advocate for designated clinics where sex workers won’t face discrimination. “Until poverty eases,” he notes, “judgment helps no one.”
What’s being done about trafficking?
NAPTIP (National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) rescued 32 victims near Ijebu-Ode in 2023. Traffickers exploit porous borders in Ogun State, promising domestic jobs in Lagos before forcing women into brothels. Red flags include:
- Recruiters demanding upfront “training fees”
- Hostels where workers are locked overnight
- Clients paying managers directly
Community reporting hotlines (627) installed at Ojofa Park help intercept victims. Rehabilitation includes trauma counseling at NAPTIP’s Abeokuta shelter and reintegration with families in source communities like Epe.