(Photos) Exposed: Lagos Hotel Where “Male Prostitutes” Hustle For Clients
report was culled from PUNCH. Just read and be
wowed!
The time was 7pm, penultimate Saturday. The
venue was a hotel on Abaranje Road in Ikotun, a
suburb in Lagos State. He adorned black denims on
a black T-shirt. He said his name was Kenny, of
course, he admitted it wasn't his real name.
He sauntered into the hotel as if his main aim was
to have a couple of drinks and maybe complement
it with a plate of sizzling pepper soup.
But Kenny didn't just come to only have a drink,
Kenny is first of all, a male commercial sex worker
and was looking for a customer that he would
'service' in order to make a
quick cash for the weekend. One of our
correspondents got to know Kenny through a
regular customer, who had been patronising the
motel bar for a long time and who once had a close
contact with him.
Being a regular face in the bar as the place seemed
to be his office at night, his presence was certain,
and indeed, he came, our correspondent waited for
him.
It is no news that bars and drinking joints are the
right spots for many on weekends, and being at the
centre of a busy road, this hotel seemed like a right
place for many. The music blaring from the
speakers was good and loud enough to entertain
even those who were not within the premises.
With the perimeter fencing well-illuminated,
passers-by could as well be tempted to stop by and
have a drink. But for Kenny, he came on purpose.
On hand were some guys in crested vests with
'security' boldly printed on them to ensure law and
order in the premises.
Not even the crowd and almost non-availability of
chairs could dissuade people as some, including
our correspondent, had to lean on a car for some
time before he could locate a seat.
"This is the way it is on weekends. Because a
number of those who come here on weekends are
in the working class, you don't get to see them on
week days, so, on weekends, the house is always
full. Even at certain times, you may not have a place
to sit, and the premises, including the car park,
would be so crowded, yet, it's safe," Seun, who
claimed to be a regular customer, told Saturday
Punch.
But the loud music would not really be the only
thing one would instantly notice, skimpily and
scantily dressed ladies prancing from one end of
the motel to the other would instantly hit your eyes
as soon as you sit, stand or hang out anywhere
near the motel.
Of course, one wouldn't need a soothsayer to know
that the ladies are commercial sex workers, looking
for customers for the night. Indeed, just as they are
on the lookout for patrons, their male counterparts
are not left behind.
Like Kenny, sitting at different tables, were young
guys chatting, smoking and drinking and talking in
loud voices. To the innocent eyes, they are just
young men having a good time. But then, only a few
would know that some of them are also
commercial sex workers. They are available for
women who are ready to have them in exchange
for some cash.
Since the male sex workers may not readily own up
or be identified as being available for 'service', one
of our correspondents approached a female sex
worker as if he needed a 'quickie' or 'short rest' so
that in the middle of their chat, she could help in
identifying a guy to service his 'madam.'
"Babe, how far now," our correspondent asked. "I
dey o, wetin dey happen?" she responded. Our
correspondent introduced himself as 'John' while
she gave her name as 'Debbie' who looked to be in
her mid 20s.
Our correspondent requested for a short service
but that before proceeding to the room or the car,
she would have to help in arranging a "strong guy"
for his madam who parked outside the hotel.
"I brought my madam here so I could 'arrange' a
guy for her, but since I wouldn't want to idle away
while they would be having a good time, we can
quickly do a 'short rest' before they would finish
theirs. So you go help me arrange man for am. I
mean guy wey strong well well o," our
correspondent had asked Debbie.
"That one na small thing now, guys dey. Make we
talk our own first. It depends on what you want or
what she wants; maybe tall or short, fair or dark,
they are all here and they are all very strong too. In
fact, I have some that I can't give your madam
because they can 'wound' her. I hope say your
madam go fit pay o and she go get body hold am,"
Debbie responded swiftly.
She agreed to take N1,500 for the 'short time'
service, with an agreement that our correspondent
would pay for a room in the motel at the rate of
N700.
"For short rest, a room is N700 but if it is till day
break, it's N4,000, but if you give me the money,
they can take N500 from me instead of the N700
because I'm a regular customer. I just 'rested' a guy
now, so they know me very well, and there are
many rooms we can choose from," she explained.
When the deal was sealed, she handed her drink to
our correspondent and dashed into the crowd to
look for one of the male sex workers.
A few minutes later, Debbie returned with five guys,
averagely in their mid and late 20s. On arrival, they
introduced themselves, which sounded like aliases.
Among them was Water, perceived to be a strong
and qualified guy for the job. Others gave their
names as TK, Segun, Uche and Charles, all looking
set for work as they gesticulated occasionally.
While thinking of which of them to choose, they all
promised to 'deliver' more than expected.
On a closer look, our correspondent had sighted
one of them in the bar, smoking, drinking and
dancing, all at once, but nothing would have given
him away as a sex worker. Though he appeared like
a 'bad guy', sagging his jean trousers as if his
boxers had to be a part of the party.
After taking turns to explain how much they could
perform, Saturday Punch learnt that the average
amount the guys collect from any woman who
needs their services for a short time is N5,000. It
could be more than one round, but not for too
long.
"If it is till daybreak, we charge at least N8,000, and
the woman would also pay for the room and a
room costs N4,000 per night in this place unless
she doesn't want to use the hotel. We can go for as
many rounds as she wants," Water told Saturday
Punch.
With an assurance that money wouldn't be a
problem as long as he could deliver and satisfy the
madam, Water boasted that he had been doing it
and 'servicing' big women for a long time and that
he was very popular in the bar such that those who
had been patronising the hotel knew him for his
strength.
"It's been a while I started doing this thing, even
before I came here. And the truth is that the more
you do, the better skilled you become. So
chairman, relax, madam go enjoy my company. In
fact, because she is a new customer, I can give her
discount and she should just give me whatever she
has afterwards. I'm sure if she enjoys my service,
she would come back looking for me.
"Ask them, all of them know me, and they know that
I don't disappoint. If she says we should go now,
I'm ready, no stopping till mama calls," he assured.
When our correspondent selected Water to meet
the madam, who had been waiting outside in her
car, his face beamed with smiles. He teased his
colleagues, saying he had caught another big fish.
He almost led the way when it was time to go,
basking in some euphoria. It was while walking to
the car that he told our correspondent that he had
been cash-strapped for some time. He said he
would give his best so that he would be rewarded
handsomely.
"Some of the big women I have 'serviced' before
still call me till date, and once you do them well
(sic), they won't want to lose you. They can even call
you to meet them anywhere and they would pay,"
he added.
On getting to the car where one of our
correspondents pretends to be the 'madam,' Water
expressed a little reservation before going into the
car alone with someone he had never met before,
but with assurance that nothing would happen to
him, he jumped in.
But then again, once inside the car where 'madam'
was waiting to 'bargain' with Water, the young
man's confidence waned a little as he kept looking
from one corner of the car to the other, apparently
looking for what would give away the
correspondent as not being real.
Asked why he looked tensed, Water said, "Sorry
ma, it is not as if I am not used to this. But then
again, I have to be careful. You know that this is not
common. We are aware that women come here
and 'take' our 'destinies' once we sleep with them.
The money that we ought to make would be going
to them."
But 'madam' quickly assured him that his fears
weren't necessary by telling him, "I am not looking
for a boyfriend. The guys I had dealt with stole my
money and broke my heart even when I gave them
love. I just want somebody I can have sex with and
that is just that. I don't want my heart to be
involved at all."
Satisfied with the explanation, Water quickly
boasted about his sexual prowess.
"Ah! Madam! I will do you well. In fact, if I 'handle'
you, I am not sure you would want to let me go.
Just try me and you would find out that you have
been dealing with the wrong boys."
And of course, he didn't waste time to tell 'madam'
that he would charge N15, 000 for the night for his
'services.'
"Madam, if na TDB (Till day break), na N15k I go
take o, I no charge you. No be so we dey even
collect. E get some people wey dey charge N20k.
Last week, na N25k one woman pay me. I just like
you as you set, na why I wan collect N15k."
The bargaining eventually ended at N7, 000 for the
night but Water insisted that he wouldn't be the
person that would pay for the room.
"A room in this hotel is N4, 000. You will be the one
to pay for it and my own money will be N7, 000. Na
the last price be that."
Apart from the money 'madam' was willing to pay,
the young man had some other 'conditions'
attached to his services.
"Madam, if you no wan make I use condom, that
one will cost you extra. The N7k is with condom o.
Without condom dey sweet pass and na why we
dey charge extra N2, 000 for that.
"Madam, you go first 'ginger' me well. Then we go
come play. Na you go 'ginger' me before we play,
otherwise my body no go fit stand."
When our correspondent assured him that he
would be 'gingered,' Water was all eager to set the
ball rolling.
But our correspondent told him he would have to
wait for her the following day, that she had just
come into town.
Before they departed, 'madam' asked Water if he
had other people who could 'service' her friends
and he replied in the affirmative.
"We plenty nah. Ha! Should I call somebody for you
now? Is your friend on her way? This is what we do.
We are 'hustlers'. Na so we dey make our money,
we no be thieves and we are not criminals," he
said.
When asked if he would agree to a monthly or
weekly allowance, Water agreed but not without
saying, "Madam, the first night, we must do it here
o. I am still not sure of you. So we have to use this
motel first. Then, if you want me to come to your
hotel later, I would agree. That one na small thing."
While Water and 'madam' engaged in serious
bargaining, Debbie appeared, seemingly impatient
to have our correspondent, her 'early customer' all
to herself. With a little tip, she agreed to stay for
some time until the conversation between Water
and the 'madam' was over.
"That guy is good if your madam can pay. I have
slept with him before and he almost spoilt my tool
of business. He took me home for 'daybreak' and I
could barely walk the following morning. My legs
were weak and I could barely walk home, and he
still appeared very strong after all he did through
the night. Even though he paid me N6,000 for the
service, I can't sleep with him again," Debbie
narrated.
Debbie assured our correspondent that the chosen
guy was a very strong 'sex machine.' She explained
that the guys who do such are not always greedy
about the money they want to collect because she
had arranged guys for some women earlier,
including the one she did for a woman the previous
day.
"The woman called me this morning to appreciate
me for giving her a good guy. She told me the guy
was very good and capable," she added.
When asked whether there were enough men that
could satisfy as many women that might come in a
day, she hissed in amazement, saying they were
more than imagined.
"Some of those guys that you see hanging around
are available for service, whether for short time or
TDB but you won't know they do such, you know
how our society be now. Unlike our own, so they
can't really do much to present themselves as
available. Besides, some women are too shy to
come here but since here is safe and there is
accommodation for just N700, they feel safe to do
it here," she said.
After a little familiarity, she confided in our
correspondent that she had a beauty salon but that
since business had been bad, she went into
commercial sex to augment her income, more so
because it doesn't affect her work in the afternoon.
"But if any of my customers calls me during the
day, I will oblige him as long as he's ready to pay,"
she added.
While our correspondent promised to get back to
Water the following day, he gladly gave out his
number as he pocketed the N1,000 gift given to him
to buy himself a drink. He however added that he
would be expecting a call, beaming with smiles as
he walked away.
While the conversation lasted, some of the other
guys had been moving up and down around the
car, hoping the 'madam' would need them as well.
And, on the other hand, Debbie had stormed out of
the discussion with our correspondent out of
impatience, complaining that she was losing money
as she stood outside chatting, but not without a
cash gift as well.
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