Nigeria: Prostitutes protest in Lagos - “Sex is work too”

A female prostitute, Patoo Abraham has led protests in Lagos to seek a better lot for prostitutes in Nigeria. The 48-year-old is seeking to ensure that prostitution is legalized in Nigeria and that sex workers be protected and respected.

 The mother-of-two, who heads the Nigerian chapter of African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) and the Women of Power Initiative (WOPI) , led protests with the demonstrators wearing T-shirts screaming “Sex work is work, we need our rights”.

“We are tired of dying in silence; we want to be able to practice our profession with pride like every other person. We want an end to name-calling and stigmatization. We are sex workers and not asawo [a derogatory Yoruba name for prostitutes]”, She told Aljazeera.

 “Sex work is normal work and there are sex workers everywhere under one form of disguise or the other. The government should stop criminalizing our work”, she further said. Patoo also stated that she is proud of her profession as it is not different from any other trade. Controversial musician, Maheeda has also called for the legalization of prostitution in Nigeria.