Commercial sex workers in Kano have called on organizers of the ongoing nationwide hunger protests to engage the Federal Government in dialogue to resolve their grievances. The protests, which have severely affected socio-economic activities, have left these workers without customers, exacerbating their struggle for survival.
Monica James, who operates on France Road, expressed her distress, stating, “I have not eaten for two days because of the curfew; our customers are nowhere to be found.” She emphasized that dialogue is the only viable solution to address the issues raised by the protesters.
Deborah Iliya, another sex worker on Yoruba Road, echoed these sentiments, describing the situation as dire. Hannatu Ibrahim of Weather Head Area joined the call for an end to the protests, advocating for a return to normalcy.
Caroline James, working from a brothel on Enugu Street in Sabon Gari, lamented that the infiltration of hoodlums and subsequent violence had disrupted their business. “I had clients willing to pay between N30,000 and N40,000, but they couldn’t keep their appointments due to the tension and curfew,” she said.
Another sex worker, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared that some colleagues were forced to share rooms due to the lack of customers. She appealed to the authorities to relax the curfew to enable them to resume their business activities.
The impact of the protests extends beyond sex workers. Moses John, a bar attendant, reported a significant downturn in business activities in Sabon Gari, with hotels and bars experiencing a severe drop in customers. Similarly, Kenneth John, a dealer in Esi Ewu (goat head) on Aitken Road, lamented losing several heads of goats due to the lack of power supply.
