Another look at legalizing prostitution in Nigeria

That the increasing number of people delving into prostitution in Nigeria is a problem cannot be debated, not when the growth of the trade is to a large extent linked the economic hardship which many Nigerians have been forced into.

Beyond hypocrisy and sanctimony, Nigeria definitely needs to look into this growing concern.  A night walk in the biggest economic hubs of Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja, Rivers) will leave anyone who still has his right mind intact shocked as to how many women and even men trade their bodies as a source of livelihood. 

The situation is so bad that even some who have regular day jobs indulge in the trade after their official working hours, plying their trades in bars, clubs, hooker houses, strippers joints in the streets and certain other “lewd” place where revellers and lechers visit.

To act as if all is well is to fool ourselves. True there is currently no legal backing for the trade, however, in the redlight zones where the trading activities take place, the authorities and security agents turn a blind eye and watch it thrive. 

Unions have been formed by the ladies-of-easy-virtues and they continue to push for what they would term “liberation” (the legalization of their trade).

Its no news that Nigeria has one of the highest number of ladies exported or sent abroad for prostitution, with many teenagers caught-up in a storm in which their futures are drowned, forever. 

This issue which cuts across and beyond cultural values, morals, ethics and religious believes with a sickening undertone of economics and politics intertwined, cannot be shoved aside. Having said that, Nigerians have been reacting to the controversial issue, some seeing things from the moral and religious angle while others take a diverse look at the matter.

Below are what Nigerians have to say about the move to Legalize prostitution in Nigeria, just as countries like such countries as Brazil, Dominican Republic, Israel, Netherlands, Ireland have done. 

Decency Uche said: “Whoever thinks of legalizing prostitution should first of all think about the dangers ahead. First, your girl child might be the first person to get the certificate of prostitution business. 

“Secondly, your male child may be the 1st to use your hard earned money to patronize them without being afraid.”

Still on the moral side of the issue, Nicholas Ibemere said: “No. It’s just like asking Nigeria to legalize homosexuality because USA, in all its ‘wisdom’, did. Let Nigeria stick to its cultural heritage and never compromise on it,for any reason” One Mr Uduma was of the opinion that Nigeria cannot be the first African nation to pass such a bill. 

According to Nkeiru Nzenwa George, legalizing prostitution is like sending people to an early grave, legalizing this will amount to stamping on abomination, adding to the salt on an existing injury, “even if other country’s do it, Nigeria shouldn’t,” he said.

Taking the matter to the government, Chinyere Gift Chukwunyerem said: “PMB should create more better jobs for youths if that is done, then prostitution will reduce drastically.” Gurpreet Singh said: “Government must look into the matter of employment, legalizing prostitution will be proof of acceptance and approval of wrong things in the society. 

It must be banned and everybody must try to get a honest job.” Obiora Chukwudubem noted that legalizing prostitution is just like legalizing child marriage.

In aversion to the moralist and religious takes on the controObiiversial issue, Gaddafi Avutu noted that “This trade has gone beyond being legalized or not. Married women, grandmothers, children, and many more are engaged in this. 

The era of street prostitutes has been taken over by organized prostitution using the high and higher institutions as fronts. Come into town and whisper that you want a girl, you will be asked how many you want. Get a girl and she will ask if she should bring her friends. The competition between married women and single ones is so fierce now. Men also engage in prostitution but due to the fact that most girls see prostitution as the only quick means of making money, the blame hammer falls more on them.”

Okpala Nnamdi Collins said: “What are we talking about? These people have associations so which approvals do you think they still need? Make una just tell una self the truth because the way it is now, it’s no longer secret something so they have the green card it has been legalized long ago you people can’t deceive me.” 

An obviously angered Mekalivs Benson said: “Why will they not prostitute?, Is there any job or work in this country for the poor people, that do not belong to APC, or PDP family?” 

Rex Xander was of the opinion that Nigerians are religious, but not Godly. “If all this people condemning prostitution are as good as they sound there will be no problem in Nigeria. Hypocrites, stop deceiving yourselves, you cannot go to heaven by pretending to be upright. Now, to the question , Yes!,” Xander stressed. 

Onileowo Tolu was of the opinion that the trade should be legalised. Tolu noted that the only thing that can’t be legalised, is anything that caused negative effect to one’s immediate neighbor. “As far as I am concerned, prostitution is not in anyway endangering our lives, so it should be legalized.”

In conclusion, for some its a capital “NO!” for others it has always been there and needs no one to legalise it, some others can’t care less if it is legalised especially because of the economic problems. However, there is more to this issue than meets the eye, one would notice that the issue of legalizing prostitution in Nigeria can still raise issues on gender equality, child and human trafficking, women rights and child abuse, rape and child marriages etc. 

In the end we realise that there is alot that the government of the day must do in changing the society, however, the people must like Ghandi begin to be the change that they expect to see. Democracy is a government of the people, and in the end the government is the people. What the people decide cannot be denied them.