Nigerian law does not legalize commercial sex work, it is vague if sex tourism is performed by an independent individual who operates on his or her own accord without the use of brothel. The Nigeria criminal system prohibits national and trans-national trafficking of women for commercial sex or forced labor.
Within Nigeria, sex work is commonly found within brothels or residences of sex workers. It has been recorded that young students and some unemployed graduates use sex to earn income and act as a part-time prostitute or Aristo girls. These young graduates and students use the services of pimps as a mode of operation, while some use frequent bars and restaurants.
In some cases, porters or hotel staff acts as pimps and links between upper class Nigerians and the call girls or also called the Aristo girls. The aristo girls mostly serve upper class citizens and almost two thirds of brothel and street sex workers are traders, bar girls, or individuals who have a second type of job. Brothels are in virtually every major city in Nigeria and offer the cheapest form of service. The brothels are located in highly populated districts and slums within the city.
At a point in time a different form of prostitution known as corporate prostitution, mostly limited to financial institutions began to gain notability whereby some female staffers sleep with men for accounts in order to meet financial targets
Men also engage in prostitution but the rate and number of young girls engaging in prostitution in the country is alarming, however people call it different names, whichever name one chooses to call them, it all comes down to prostitution.
The influx of ladies into prostitution can be linked to their desire to use expensive gadgets, compete with their friends or just to feel among, some are not even doing it for the money but for the sake of pleasure.
MAJOR SEX TOURISMT STATES IN NIGERIA
For the rising figures of sex tourists in Nigeria. Below are the seven states that have them in high numbers.
LAGOS STATE: Lagos is Nigeria’s business hub that has lots of industries and a popular state of the federation with a very high population of citizens from all parts of the country. It has individuals with fancy cars, big hotels, big companies and a lot of flashy asset. So the entry of large number of prostitutes into the state is staggering, they are almost at every corner, clubs, bars, hotels and everywhere.
EDO STATE: Edo is popular for promiscuity as prostitution happens to be a way of life for both for their male and female, especially the state’s capital. Prostitution is Edo state has been taken to a whole new height where their ladies are taken to other countries like Italy, South Africa to promote the sexual act.
ABUJA: Abuja is another classy city populated with wealthy young men and politicians. Where the challenge is not the money but how to spend it. This therefore makes the demand for sex workers high and migration of sex workers into the city as the pay is attractive to the ladies involved in it.
ENUGU: This state is also filled with so many brothels at different areas and prices where ladies patronize by staying in the front to get the attention of men.
DELTA: Delta State also has a high number of prostitutes in Nigeria such as town like Oghara, Sapele, and Warri which are the popular areas of prostitution in Delta State.
OGUN: This state is gradually having a high number of sex tourists as it has a high number of Yahoo boys, whereby they make use of their fancy materials to gain attention. Many young ladies do not see the need to engage in a decent job anymore they rather prefer prostitution in order to get quick access to money from the so-called yahoo boys, hence, increasing the number of prostitutes in the state.
Other states include: Cross River, Calabar, Benue, Rivers and Some Northern States
Sadly, sex tourism has lured its victims with unexplainable consequence such as of Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD), unwanted pregnancy, sales and trade of unwanted children, bodily damage and psychological trauma.
The checklist of the toxic content of uncontrolled, open and nude sex shows displayed on Television screen across Nigeria has also increased the rate of sexual tourism.