Lagos State, Nigeria - Family Health International

9.7 Ethnographic Account
Epe, the “fish basket” of Lagos State, is located on longitude
4oE and latitude 6.31oN. Epe Town, the LGA headquarters,
could be described as riverine, located on a slightly
elevated land rising between 30 to 60 metres above sea
level. It borders the shores of Lagos Lagoon and the sheltered
Lekki Lagoon surrounded by mangrove swamp forest.
The LGA is bounded on the east by Ijebu-East and
Ijebu-South LGAs of Ogun State along Imobi and Iwopin,
where it crosses the Lekki Lagoon further south terminating
at Aboreji seacoast end. It shares a boundary with
Ikorodu LGA in the west and Imota across Ikorodu/Epe
Road. It is bounded in the north by Odogbolu LGA of
Ogun State and Ijebu-Lekki LGA in the south.
EpeTown, where most fieldwork was carried out, is about
140km. east of Ikeja, the capital city of Lagos. The LGA
includes a number of isolated villages or settlements occupied
by the Ijebus, a Yoruba sub-ethnic group. The population
is estimated at between 200,000 and 250,000.
The people are predominantly farmers. Fish farming is
important in the riverine areas; many of the Ilaje from
Ondo State participate in this activity. Civil servants, uniformed
security personnel, bus/taxi drivers, motorcyclists
(okada), mechanics and petty traders (women) who dominate
the main open markets. Commercial female sex
workers operate mostly in the brothels.
The first settlers probably migrated to the present locale in
the 15th and 16th centuries. Others arrived as late as
19th Century. According to tradition or oral history, the
earliest settler came directly from Ile-Ife, the cradle of the
Yoruba race, followed perhaps by migrants from Ijebu-
Ode, Sagamu and Lagos. Some inhabitants of the riverine
villages moved from Epe Town. Yoruba, with Ijebu
dialect, is spoken but most inhabitants are also fluent in
English.
Epe has fairly adequate social facilities for a Nigerian suburban
community: pipe-borne tap water and constant or
at least predictable electricity (NEPA). The road network
is impressive and general sanitation is satisfactory.
Educational facilities include a campus of Lagos State
University (LASU), Lagos State College of Primary
Education, and many primary and secondary schools.
There is a general hospital and many private hospitals,
health centres and clinics and pharmaceutical and drug
stores. Recreational facilities include open fields and
halls, motels, bars and clubhouses. The five major markets
provide entertainment as well as commercial activities.
In addition to their religious roles, churches and
mosques also offer some recreation and entertainment.
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Lagos State
9.7.1 Aiyetoro
Aiyetoro, with a population of about 28,000, is the commercial
nerve centre of the LGA. There are no secondary
schools in the area, but much commercial activity.
Aiyetoro Market, the most popular in Epe, is located here.
The two main motor garages, hotels and brothels are
important features of Aiyetoro. The area also has many
retail shops, hawkers, food vendors, petty traders, private
clinics and patent medicine stores. Female sex workers –
both permanent and visiting SW –occupy the brothels.
FSW are mostly located in Akinsola Street behind the
Total Filling Station. Visiting sex workers are found in
Satolu and Prestige Hotels.
9.7.2 Papa
Papa is a relatively small community of about 15,000
inhabitants. Residents include farm workers, fishermen,
construction workers, uniformed government workers
and female sex workers. Papa is very close to the LASU
campus and Epe, and has two secondary schools –all factors
that make Papa very relevant to the research interest.
In addition, the site hosts young people of various social
categories: in- and out-of-school youths, ‘area boys’,
motorcyclists, bus conductors, taxi drivers, petty traders
and their female apprentices.
9.7.3 Marina
Marina (population 12,000) is, in many ways, similar to
Papa, except that there is only one primary school and
only one church in the community. There are, however,
various community groups or associations such as Isoko
Community Association, Ibo Association and Itshekiri
Association. Non-indigenes are concentrated in the
Marina area. Sex workers are mostly located in Baba
Sahear brothel very close to Aiyetoro. Araromi Market is
a major commercial centre that also provides other social
activities.