The Bauchi State Government today, said that the administration of Governor Bala Muhammed is set to conduct a census of all prostitutes in the state and register them.
The development was made known by the Permanent Commissioner in charge of Sharia and Hisbah implementation, Aminu Balarabe-Isah.
In his address at a sensitisation workshop organised for commercial sex workers, Balarabe-Isah said that the state needs an accurate census of the prostitutes.
He added that the information gathered from the exercise will assist the commission take measures that would discourage them from continuing in their dangerous profession.
According to Balarabe-Isah, the Bauchi State government is also planning to organise empowerment programs for the commercial sex workers and in the process, grant them the capital to start small-scale businesses.
He said that investigations so far indicated that majority of the prostitutes took to the trade because of illiteracy, poverty or maltreatment received in the hands of stepmothers.
The commissioner explained that minor family squabbles also contribute to their option for prostitution. He reassured the prostitutes that government will take steps to reunite them with their parents.
He added that government would also organise mass weddings for those lucky enough to get suitors.