Island Babes: How Girls Afford to Live in Expensive Neighbourhoods in Lagos

In the opulent neighborhoods of Lagos, particularly on the Island areas, a peculiar phenomenon has emerged. Young girls seemingly living their best life in luxurious apartments, leaving many wondering how they manage to afford such extravagant lifestyle. The modus operandi of these girls – often referred to as “Island Babes” – have now been discovered by The Bug and we are going to share the tea with you.

To put things into perspective, the average cost of renting a regular studio apartment in prime areas like Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi is about a million and five hundred thousand naira, and if you include the infamous agency, legal and caution fees, the number swells to between two to three million naira. This is not a venture for kids, considering the average income of working Lagosians, hence it raises eyebrows. How are girls that are barely 20, without a proper job, manage to live there?

Unbeknownst to many, a clandestine system has been operating in Lagos and have recently started getting more and more popular amongst girls looking for an easy way out. The business model is quite simple: entrepreneurs rent/lease buildings or apartments and pay premium, then charge a lot of girls tokens to get accommodated. While there’s no direct effort made by the person who rented/leased the apartment to get girls to engage in prostitution, they are well aware the kind of clients they cater to. They are often called “Runs girls,” servicing men with an endless thirst for sex and the money to pay for a huge supply. The ticket these girls need to get into the neighbourhood and join the party, is a weekly rent of N15,000 to N50,000.

In some of such houses, about 20 girls are housed, and with a conservative fee of N15,000 per girl, about 1.2 million naira is pocketed by the investor monthly, 14.4 million naira in a year. The math is simple: rent a building/apartment for 3-6 million naira, sublet to eager tenants, and reap substantial profits.

But beneath the glamorous facade, tensions simmer. Fights erupt over money issues and rivalries for men’s attention. When payments are late or missed, the apartment owners can be ruthless:

• Some girls succumb to sleeping with the owner to waive payment.
• Others face seizure of luxurious items.
• Luggage is tossed outside, leaving occupants stranded.

The harsh realities of this underworld economy remain hidden from public view. Behind closed doors, these women navigate complex webs of relationships, finances, and other struggles.

A Glimpse into Their Lives

In most cases, there are no private spaces in these camps, they sleep wherever they find space to lay their heads. No you can’t bring properties you can’t afford to lose because if they got stolen, who amongst your many housemates will you confront? This is the reality for some Island Babes. With earnings ranging from 20 -100k or more per “run,” they struggle to make ends meet.

Their stories are multifaceted, filled with aspirations, desperation, and resilience. As we peek into their world, we begin to understand the intricate dynamics driving this secretive lifestyle. In a follow up to this piece, we will explore the story further, sharing the direct experience of some involved.