IN THE STREETS OF LAGOS

EPISODE 1

"If you could describe the nightlife in the city of Lagos, what would you say"?

Well,

"I'd say that Lagos never sleeps that is, at night you see the city of Lagos come fully alive. Even I have seen my better days as a streetwalker and escort in the streets of this great city. My name is Thelma Okoro and this is my story"...


I grew up in a normal family like any other average Nigerian. My father was a businessman, and so was my mother too. I was an only child, so you could imagine the level of love and affection I frequently received from my parents. But then as I grew older, I started regarding every bit of affection and love bestowed on me, as torture... my father never permitted me to go out with friends, neither did he let them visit. My teenage life was literally spent either at the church, my dad's or mum's shop, relatives house, just any place my parents were present. My freedom began when I got admitted into Unilag... like, that was when my life seemed like it had just started. It's not like I kept bad friends, partied or did anything much at that time, I was just happy that at least, I had my own space. One day mum got sick... supposedly, she had Cirrhosis of the liver. She died a year later and at that time, I was 18 and still an undergraduate of Unilag, specifically at 300 level. I lost every sense of clarity... she was my rock, my everything yet, she had left me just like that. I blamed God and questioned His existence. After she was laid to rest, my dad decided he was going to send me off to stay with my aunt as he would be traveling outside the country for business. You could imagine how I felt with that news... just a few days ago, we just told my mum, his wife, goodbye forever and instead of staying together to mourn her, he's going on a trip and sending me off... really?

I took a walk all the way from Ago down to Ajao Estate... you know, I really needed a breath of fresh air. The cool evening breeze swept through my face as I walked aimlessly. It even seemed like I was getting strange stares from people but I didn't care. I stopped somewhere along the way and sat on the pavement... I buried my face in my hands and just cried. I hadn't realize the attention I had drawn to myself until a man walked up to me. He was tall, well dressed, about in his early fifties with white beards trimmed perfectly and neatly around his cheeks and jaw... he was literally what I would call, "a fine old man". He knelt down beside me and held my face up asking me what the problem was with compassion in his eyes. I told him everything. I don't know but I was just induced to tell this man how I felt... it was weird but it really helped. He held my hands up and gestured me towards his Lexus LX 570 that just sat there, on the street beautifully. I got in and we drove off to only God knows where... well, I was about to find out. I know what you might be thinking at this point... he was a stranger and was around the same age as my father; yes I get! What if he's a kidnapper or something blah blah blah. I felt like he could be trusted... besides I cared less what the aftermath would have been, after all, my life was literally at its breaking point. We drove all the way to Victoria Island, Ozumba Mbadiwe precisely, to a restaurant 'the lagoon'. It was a restaurant with an outdoor setting located by the lagoon... trust me, it was beautiful.
You see he wasn't so bad after all... we ordered pizza and cocktails and had a lengthy conversation. The serenity of the atmosphere somehow gave me calmness in my spirit, I actually needed this distraction and I was happy someone came along. We rounded up and we were on the road again... apparently he wanted to take me to his house. I agreed and had already called to tell my dad that I was going to be sleeping over at a friend's because I felt lonely. In approximately twenty minutes, we arrived at his house... it was entirely magnificent. He lived alone like he had told me. Although, he was based in the United Kingdom with his wife and two kids but he often came to Nigeria for business. We got into the house, and he led me upstairs to his bedroom where we talked and talked into the night. Shit! I didn't tell you this... Obviously I was beautiful, and chubby with a lot of skin in my butt side and boobs. I had a look that always gave me away as one who was older. Well, that night, I gave myself to him for the first time and that was how it all started.

My dad eventually traveled, I went back to school... Life went back to normal. I had an apartment of my own now, just a few miles from Unilag, a car... not just any car, a Mercedes Benz B Class W246, a monthly allowance of 500k plus a little cash for miscellaneous expenses, all paid for and given to me by Mr Charles Edwards. By now, I had slept with him a million times which I never regretted I mean of course, I was living my best life. I was his personal mistress... he had paid for my full service. I wasn't expected to be going out with any other man that wasn't him. I actually liked him a lot... and he provided for me so I wasn't looking for any other thing. I was the biggest girl on campus, wore the best clothes, shoes, bags... nothing was left out. What did he not do for me abeg? He even took me on boat cruises, resorts, wherever I wanted to go.
 We were in a relationship for two years when suddenly I got tired... It all felt like I was missing something. You know, I still wanted him but then, I wanted to be free to go out with whoever I wanted. Surprisingly I talked to him and he actually saw reasons with me but then, he said we'd have to always use protection whenever we had sex again. That was when I fully explored the nightlife in the city of Lagos. First of all, before I continue, let me give you a brief description of the type of guys or men you'll find in the night club.

On the top list, are people who I call "The Geng Geng Pepper Them Gang". Now, this set consists of the biggest boys in town, guys born with a silver spoon,  the ones who come into an expensive night club and shut it down, the elderly men comprising of chiefs, alhajis, multimillionaire businessmen, and politicians. These male species don't use Nigerian's currency oh, they handle dollars... trust me, you'd never get disappointed if you find yourself in their company. Now, you don't find the normal kind of babes there... omo if you no set, bouncer go bounce you comot and e no go funny. You must be a classy 'olosho' to be in that kind of place... neat and fresh girl with everything popping out. You're just there to service them and make them feel good... but, if you're lucky and eventually, one of them wants to lodge in a hotel with you, you fit carry reach one million go house or more sef. In most nights, I made up to a million naira. I always had someone that wanted me after the club 'parole' so I made more money than most of the girls. In no time, I moved to Lekki and got a bigger apartment. Mr. Charles traveled back to the UK months later after we had agreed that I was allowed to go out with whomever I wanted. I knew I had hurt him... but then, it became boring at some point. It's been a year now, since he traveled and didn't return... I had to find a way to maintain all the assets I had acquired; my car, apartment, and lifestyle especially because I was now estranged from my family. My father had disowned me and gotten married to another woman... they had a child now. I was hurt badly, but then, it's his life... he had made his decisions just like I made mine. Let me continue...
Next, we have the rich guys... you know, they are very rich but cannot be compared to the ones on the top list so, they can't afford the luxury of throwing money around. They come into the club and don't accommodate a lot of girls in their VIP... instead, they select a few, buy the best drinks, and eventually, you get to have fun and all. Maximally, I could make up to 200k per night.
Lastly, the ones who have 'big eyes'. They don't have a lot of money yet, they want the best girls... you go wan slap them sef wen dem dey select. The funny thing is, they are the ones that parade nightclubs most often and it's so annoying. If you make up to 50k na jazz you use. They ask for change for everything they buy, na them dey suspect person pass, everything about them is rubbish I swear but, anything for the moolah right?

The thing is, every girl you see on the streets prostituting her body to make money is totally not useless. Most of them like me, have a story that prompted them to be what they are now. We like to judge and are always in a hurry at the slightest opportunity to rain insults and cast stones. I'm not saying its a justification or something but we chose our path just like every other human being and it shouldn't be questioned. So then, instead of being judgemental, why don't you lean a bit closer and observe huh?

At some point, I ventured into the streets as a streetwalker. Let's just say I kind of liked the adventure that came with it. In a week I could explore a lot of streets in Lekki... and in the next, I could go to the mainland; places like Eric Moore and Adeniran Ogusanya in Surulere. The trick was to have clients everywhere and basically, I didn't want to be seen in a particular place all the time. Most girls make the mistake of being known in a particular place which is extremely bad for business. I started receiving calls from clients in a few months so most times I didn't need to go into the street before I made money. All they had to do was to call and book. I was a streetwalker for almost two years before I decided I was going to stop to take a break. You know, I had made more than enough money to actually venture into a business.


So basically, I'd say nightlife in Lagos has its ups and downs I mean, my story is just one aspect of the way things roll at night. A lot of things actually go down at night in the streets of Lagos but I'll stop here. Like I'll always say, ' Lasgidi na only for the people wey sabi'. 




-your ideal writer

  JUANITA'S
  nitakelly010@gmail.com