For a lot of ladies, bras are merely uncomfortable, one thing they tolerate, not take pleasure in.
The tight bands, strap marks, and unforgiving underwires make bras extra of a mandatory evil than a consolation accent. Some even joke that if the underwire is metallic, one incorrect transfer and also you would possibly puncture a lung. It’s no marvel many Nigerian ladies are rethinking the necessity for them totally.
October 13 marks Nationwide No Bra Day, an annual marketing campaign devoted to elevating consciousness about breast most cancers and inspiring early detection. Whereas Nationwide No Bra Day goals to advertise breast most cancers consciousness and physique acceptance, the narrative takes a unique flip in Nigeria, the place some ladies have reportedly confronted harassment and even alleged arrest for going braless.
Not way back, social media went wild over reviews {that a} safety group in Anambra State deliberate to arrest ladies for going out with out bras or underwear. A video even confirmed an official claiming, in Igbo, that the instruction got here from Governor Chukwuma Soludo. The story sparked outrage, till the federal government publicly denied and debunked the hearsay.
𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚, 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬
A safety outfit in Anambra has declared its intention to arrest ladies seen in public with out bras or panties.
The… pic.twitter.com/wkpxh1brVr— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) February 17, 2025
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There was additionally a viral video of female students in Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) being bodily checked for bras earlier than exams. What occurred to privateness, dignity, and the appropriateness of dress-code enforcement in faculties?
Video: Olabisi Onabanjo College OOU allegedly enforces the brand new “No bra, No entry” coverage
pic.twitter.com/tKLNs9XKwz— Nigeria Tales (@NigeriaStories) June 17, 2025
The bra debate has develop into a scorching matter throughout Nigerian social media and podcasts, sparking heated arguments about morality, style, and management. Some critics declare that ladies who go braless are tempting or distracting males, accusing them of assaulting males with their nipples.
Many of the girls that go to procuring malls don’t put on bra — Nedu
pic.twitter.com/bxUZ6WJr3U— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) May 8, 2023
On the ladies’s facet, there have been loads of explanation why they do not put on bras, and listed below are a number of the commonest:
Consolation
A big consensus was consolation, and it is logical. In scorching, humid climate like ours, folks typically select lighter, much less restrictive clothes, and for some, which means a bralette, camisole, or nothing below a high in any respect.
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Price
Bras could be costly, and it is a actual consideration the place budgets are tight. Low-cost underwear markets don’t at all times carry well-fitting, supportive choices for all physique varieties, and when the out there bras are uncomfortable or ill-fitting, many ladies merely cease carrying them. A top quality bra for common bust sizes can now price ₦20,000, and for fuller cups, costs climb to ₦50,000 or extra.
After we spoke to Mrs. Sobona Kabirat Moninuola, a Lagos-based bra vendor, she revealed that bra gross sales have dropped by practically 50% since mid-2024. In accordance with her, the sharp decline is essentially resulting from rising costs. She mentioned:
Clients who used to purchase 4 bras between 2020 and 2023 now settle for only one.
She added that inventory that beforehand offered out inside three weeks now sits on her cabinets for 3 months or extra, gathering mud.
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Vogue suits
Let’s be trustworthy, the style girlies aren’t about to sacrifice their model on the altar of societal expectations. On this period of crop tops and cut-outs, why spoil the vibe with a bra? For a lot of youthful Nigerian ladies, it’s about clear strains and luxury. They’re selecting types that prioritise aesthetic and layering over typical undergarments.
Physique positivity
The phrase “my physique, my selection” captures why many ladies go braless, as a press release of physique positivity, self-ownership, and resistance to societal management. However as at all times, the web is split on this; some see it as empowerment and consciousness, whereas others model it indecent or attention-seeking.
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Males’s opinions on Nigerian ladies going braless are divided. Whereas some discover it interesting or unbothered, others insist it breaches public decency requirements. Even those that acknowledge that bras could be uncomfortable argue that seen nipples, areolas, or nipple piercings in public make them uneasy.
Finally, two truths can exist facet by facet. Bras aren’t probably the most snug factor to put on, however public decency and context nonetheless matter. As conversations round physique autonomy proceed, maybe the aim isn’t selecting one fact over the opposite, however studying the best way to coexist with each respectfully.
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