Sex workers in Abuja have since cut down their service charge to 90% as a result of the economic hardship thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic that is making them record huge low patronage.
Some of the sex workers in Abuja who spoke to MAWA FOUNDATION say the COVID-19 has led to low patronage which has forced them to reduce their service by 90%.
Speaking to MAWA at the Wuse II area of Abuja, close to Denis Hotel, some commercial sex workers say COVID-19 hits them badly while pointing out that the pandemic is the worse experience they ever had since in the business.
One of the sex workers who identified herself as Miss Efiom told the MAWA FOUNDATION team at Denis Hotel reception that they were forced to cut down their service charge by 90%, an action she said happened because they were recording huge low patronage.
Another sex worker who identified herself as Azuka told MAWA team at Eden Garden in the Jabi area of Abuja that before the COVID-19, they charge customers N5k for a short time and N15k to N20K throughout the night.
Azuka, however, added that although they have cut their service charge from N15k to N1, 500 it is very difficult to find customers, pointing out that many of the men that patronize them have since stopped because they have no money to spend.
At Wuse Zone 4, close to Kings Care Hospital, four of the sex workers who spoke to MAWA, narrated how they have lost all their customers to COVID-19.
“This COVID-19 pandemic, we find it very difficult to get two customers a day, things are just tough, men who patronize us the most no longer pick us” Aisha, one of the sex workers said.
At, Karu area of Abuja, two sex workers who spoke to MAWA at the entrance of the OSSAS Hotel, said they are quitting the sex worker business, pointing out that since the outbreak of the pandemic, they are facing difficulties as a result of low patronage.
“We are the most hit in this COVID-19 era, all our customers have deserted us, imagine, we have been standing here since 8:00 pm and this is few minutes to 12:00 am and nobody has spoken to us” this is not fair” Asabe one of the sex workers told MAWA.