Prostitution Now Wearing a New Face in Nigeria
By Augustine chijioke Aniagu
http://www.newsportng.com.ng In the bustling streets of Nigerian cities, a quiet rebranding is taking place. What was once openly called prostitution is now being cloaked in softer terms “hookup,” “runs,” “package,” and more recently, “spa massage.”
While the names may have changed, the reality remains the same: a growing number of young women many as young as 16 are being drawn into transactional sex work, often under the guise of modern wellness businesses.
**From Street Corners to “Massage Rooms”*
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Traditionally, prostitution in Nigeria was visible on street corners, brothels, and hotels. Today, the trend has shifted indoors. Apartments, short-let hotels, and even rented rooms in plazas now double as “spas” offering massage services with the promise of a “happy ending.”
Though some legitimate spa and wellness centers exist, the lines are increasingly blurred. Many young women are recruited with the promise of jobs as therapists, only to later discover that sex work is part of the “package” expected of them.
“I thought I was applying for a massage job,” recounts a 19-year-old former spa worker in Abuja. “But after my first week, the manager told me that real money comes when clients demand extra services. If I refused, I would lose the job.”
The Legal Perspective
Despite its growing popularity, prostitution remains illegal in Nigeria. The Criminal Code Act (Sections 223–225) criminalizes the procurement and exploitation of women for prostitution. Likewise, the Penal Code (Sections 405–408), applicable in Northern Nigeria, prohibits sex work and related activities, prescribing fines and imprisonment for offenders.
For example, Section 223 of the Criminal Code states that any person who “procures a girl or woman to become a prostitute” commits an offense. Similarly, under the Penal Code (Section 405), engaging in prostitution is punishable with imprisonment for up to one year or a fine.
Yet, enforcement remains weak. Raids on brothels and street workers are occasionally reported, but the fast-rising “spa model” has made detection more difficult.
The Human Cost
Beyond legality, the human consequences are stark. Many of the girls drawn into the trade face health risks such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), emotional trauma, and the risk of violence. Early involvement in prostitution often derails their education and long-term aspirations.
Community leaders warn that the glamorization of “runs” culture on social media has made sex work appear fashionable to young girls. With economic hardship biting harder, prostitution is increasingly seen as a quick route to financial survival.
A Call for Action
Advocates argue that the government must step up regulation of wellness centers and provide safe, legitimate employment opportunities for vulnerable young women.
“Closing down illegal spas is not enough,” says Hauwa Ibrahim, a gender rights activist in Lagos. “We need social programs that give these girls alternatives. Until then, prostitution will just keep reinventing itself under new names.”
