Commercial Sex Workers Curse Fashola For Demolishing Their Brothel

Mixed reactions are still trailing the recent demolitions of structures along Badagry road to pave way for the ongoing World Bank assisted road construction. Aside traders and tenants who have expressed disappointment over the demolition of their shops and residential buildings, without provisions for alternatives, commercial sex workers operating at Agboju appear most embittered by the development. One of the sex workers who simply identified herself as Chinasa could not hide her anger against the governor Fashola led administration in Lagos state whom she said was supposed to have arranged an alternative settlement long before the structures were brought down. According to Chinasa, who spoke English fluently, “the demolition of structures which includes our own building which according to authorities was situated along the areas mapped out for the road construction have also demolished our business. Since that event, we do not have anywhere to host our clients. In fact, they do not even know how to locate us any longer”. Another colleague of Chinasa who gave her name as Sandra also lamented over the incidence. She threw curses at the government who could not provide jobs or empower the youths yet keeps frustrating every effort they make to survive. Sandra disclosed that trading sex was the only means of survival for her after searching for jobs for years. Asked how business is faring as they are seen hanging around what remains of the once bubbling Agboju market, she revealed that prior to the destruction of their brothel which they paid N1,000 per day as rent, she made over N10,000 in a day depending on the number of customers she had. Each client who made use of condom paid about #1,500 or more while those who refused to use condom paid more depending on her power of bargain. Since the demolitions she explained, “We only manage to have two customers and that is only at night as most of us who are desperate now make use of market people’s tables”. As it is she continued, “We are hoping that our land lady would do something quickly to relocate us so that we can commence our job” Meanwhile, some women who were also victims of the demolition who now display their wares along the road at Agboju bus stop see the demolition of the brothel as the hand of God and in fact, as prayer answered.