On the corners of Lagos' Sin Street, the purveyors of the oldest profession in the world have embraced the digital age. Amid the escalating 'war on cash', Nigerian hookers have turned to 'cashless sex' with point-of-sale machines.

The cashless option has become popular among prostitutes and operators of brothels and strippers. As Daily Post reports, "transactional" sex has gone digital...

In the city of Lagos, the digital revolution takes firm grip on the daily life of the citizens as shoppers are abandoning cash for digital payment using their Value Cards to purchase needful things and luxurious items––including sex! Patrons of the city’s ‘fleshpots’ can attest that payment via PoS has become the preferred payment mode in high-end brothels and strip clubs of Lagos. “The introduction of PoS is a good one. Me, naturally don’t go out with raw cash,” an old patron, Jeff, testified of the new development. The entrance of a ‘cashless’ sex house located in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb carried the bold inscription on the wall: “PoS Available,” The message is clear and boldly written. With PoS, it is ‘pay before service.’ Most of the rooms have PoS points. An extra one is at the reception for general use. Kassy, one of the resident sex workers who manages a beauty saloon and a boutique at daytime, brings her private PoS device to the brothel as well for outside business of sex trade.

The sex-for-money mercenary described the introduction of PoS as a blessing for the flesh trade.

“I have had issues with men complaining that they wanted to have fun, but no cash at hand. But since the introduction of the PoS machine, once you have your MasterCard, you are in for fun. Fun unlimited.” Asked if it is pay-before-service, the fair-complexioned prostitute said, “For me, as an independent person, it is not always. I have trusted customers who don’t go about with raw cash. Once we are done, I will bring out the machine for him to make the payment, there’s no big deal. But for some JJC, it is pay before service to avoid stories that touch,” she said amid a seductive smile.

It's not all positive though:

“It is fun but crazy at the same time,” she says. “Before now, I make about 20k per day and go away with my money, but since the introduction of the PoS here, I will have to wait till the end of the week to get my pay.” Another shocking finding by this reporter during one of his visits to the brothel was the rentage of the device to commercial sex workers for outside usage. The owner of the brothel hires out the device to any sex worker who is interested in using it for the weekend at the rate of 5k. A day rentage goes for just N1, 500.

Diminutive, dark-skinned and pretty A3 said the PoS device has been a boost to their business since it was introduced.

“As long as you have your MasterCard and there is money in your account, no more wahala. If you no get raw cash now and you need blowjob or serious lap dance, just slot in your card now let the fun begin and stop sitting down like a Bishop,” the unclad girl said while trying to seduce the writer for a dance. “I am okay, don’t feel like dancing,” this reporter replied before moving off the place. In separate chats with our reporter, most patrons applauded the new ‘invention’. “This looks more like it.” Lekan, a patron said of the introduction of PoS into the illicit business. “I have used it severally and I think is the best option. My conscience pricks me each time I give out raw cash to them,” added.

Why the shift to payment via PoS?

Because the world is gradually going cashless and we need to follow the trend so we don’t run out of business. Sometimes, many customers don’t like going about with money so the introduction of PoS machines helps a lot. I remember in 2014 when a customer came to pick me from the house around 1 am on a Sunday to Lekki. On our way, after CMS, he decided to enter one of the ATM galleries to make withdrawal. After he finished collecting the money, robbers accosted us and made away with all the money he had withdrawn including my Blackberry Porsche. I will never forget that day.

At a strip club in Allen Avenue, some of the strippers parade the place with PoS terminals in case patron runs out of cash. According to our finding, on the high end-street of Allen, one session of ‘cashless quickie’ goes a minimum of 30k (around $150). Customers using the PoS pay extra tariffs than those offering raw cash.