METRO
In this report, SAMSON EBIRERI & ISHA NYAM delve into the shifting landscape of Jos’ nightlife, uncovering the growing open-street sex trade around Rayfield and Old Airport Road. Through firsthand observations and interviews with residents, traders and young women navigating the night-time economy, they reveal the humanitarian, social and economic dimensions of a phenomenon increasingly visible across the city
As dusk thickens over Rayfield Road in Jos, Plateau State, the ordinary hum of traffic gives way to a different rhythm—one shaped by tinted windows, slow-moving cars and the quiet negotiations of a rapidly expanding night-time economy.
A growing open-street trade
At a brief stop, an ash-coloured Toyota Camry rolls down its window. Within seconds, three young women in short gowns hurry towards it. A quick bargain follows, two of them slip into the back seat, and the car disappears into the dim corridor of streetlights.
For many residents, it is an ordinary scene. In fact, for those familiar with Rayfield after dark, it is part of a vast, open secret: prostitution in Jos has shifted from hiding in shadows to thriving in plain sight.
From the stretch of Rayfield down to Old Airport Junction, clusters of young women take their positions along sidewalks and beneath dim bulbs flickering from nearby shops. Most of them are in their early twenties. They are adorned in short dresses, splash bold makeup and are resplendant in the restlessness of survival. For them, every approaching headlight signals potential business.
Their major customers, they say, are nightlife-dominant ‘Yahoo Boys’. These are mostly dubious young men with flashy cars, jewellery and a reputation for spending freely. These clients move through the night with confidence, creating a market that never fully sleeps.
Women caught between hardship, survival
Among the women is Amanda, a 23-year-old Plateau State University student. Her tone is quiet but her circumstances are loud. “This is the only way I can survive,” she reveals. “Nobody is supporting me or my family. I have to do something.”
A few metres away stands Martha, 21, shifting nervously as she watches cars go by. She came to Jos from Bauchi after her mother fell ill and her siblings needed care. “I didn’t plan this,” she explains. “But when life pushes you, you start doing things you never imagined.”
Near her is Jennifer, 25, who has worked the Rayfield–Airport stretch for almost two years. She speaks with a hardened tone shaped by rough encounters and disappointment. “We face insults, danger, everything,” she laments. “But you either stand here or go hungry.”
Further down the line is Sophia, who hides her face when cars slow down, still wrestling with shame. Once a hairdressing apprentice before her boss relocated, she says she turned to the night economy when she could no longer afford her rent. “I just want to gather small money and stop,” she whispers. “But stopping is difficult when the bills keep coming.”
Their stories—different in detail, identical in pressure—reflect the intersection of poverty, unemployment, rising cost of living and family obligations. The growing number of young women on Rayfield and Old Airport Road points not only to an economic crisis but to a deepening social one.
Human rights advocates warn that each night exposes the women to risks: harassment, exploitation, sexually transmitted infections and emotional trauma. Yet the trade continues—fuelled by high demand, weak regulation and desperation.
As midnight approaches, alternating shadows and headlights colour the street. Cars slow down, windows roll down and the cycle repeats. By morning, the same girls blend back into daytime life, the night’s struggles hidden once more beneath Jos’ calm rhythms.
Business, risks, changing fortunes
The moment the sun dips below the horizon, a new day begins at Old Airport Junction. The crossroads—once home to the now-relocated Jos Airport (Yakubu Gowon Airport)—remains a bustling landmark where commerce and nightlife collide.
In an interview with THE NIGERIA STANDARD, Mr. Yakubu Musa, a thrift seller, shared his experiences. “I can testify that this junction is very nice and unique for business. I normally start at 6 p.m. Having been here for almost 30 years selling thrifts, business has been good with high patronage. People are always coming from far and near to buy from me.”
Nanret John, a POS operator, says business thrives more at night than during the day. “I’ve been in this business for two years,” she explains. “Although I experience low patronage in daytime, the night is different—especially at month-end when salaries are paid. Overall, this place is conducive to operate.”
A resident, Kelvin Rinji, describes the junction as a hub for thrifts, fruits, food, roasted chicken and drinks. “I come here to eat and relax,” he says. “The cool breeze and the activities are enjoyable. You get all kinds of refreshments, especially for travellers.”
However, Kelvin notes disturbing trends. “Young ladies engage in prostitution to earn a living while some young men take hard drugs. It gives this place a bad image. But thanks to the government task force, it’s not as serious as before.”
Another resident, Abdusalam Abubakar, often visits to relax with a friend who sells masa and roasted meat. He notes that activities were disrupted recently when the task force cracked down on roadside traders. “But that has reduced now, maybe because of the forthcoming election,” he adds.
Despite the thriving night-time economy, renovation of a major plaza nearby has disrupted business. The plaza once hosted sports betting centres, game shops and football viewing centres. Now it is shut down, creating a ripple effect for traders.
Donwcast, Sukat Binji explains: “Business is unfair now because the plaza renovation has caused low patronage. People no longer go there to relax or play games. It’s a setback, especially for we road sellers. The task force also scares people from displaying goods.”
Similarly, Ruth Nden says Old Airport Road is busiest at night. She laments that ongoing renovations and the presence of the task force have made business unfriendly.