Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over reports of young Nigerians allegedly resorting to selling their kidneys to survive, blaming the development on the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress, raised the concern in a post on X on Thursday, saying he had heard “disturbing stories” of young Nigerians allegedly selling body organs in desperate attempts to raise money.
He said young Nigerians should be “selling dreams, ideas and innovation, not their body organs,” describing the reported trend as one that should “offend the conscience of every Nigerian.”
Atiku claimed that some young Nigerians were reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million. However, he did not attribute the figure to any specific report or agency, and the claim could not be independently verified.
He linked the alleged trend to rising living costs, citing the increasing prices of food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity.
“At a time when almost everything required to live with dignity is becoming more expensive by the day, young Nigerians are reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million,” he said.
The former Vice President argued that the situation goes beyond ordinary economic hardship, saying it reflects a level of desperation that could expose vulnerable Nigerians to criminal organ-trafficking networks.
Atiku acknowledged that Nigeria has laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and trafficking but maintained that legislation alone would not address the poverty and desperation that make young people vulnerable to exploitation.
He called for economic policies focused on reducing the cost of food and transportation, improving access to healthcare, creating decent jobs and restoring hope among young Nigerians.
“Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again,” Atiku said.
His comments come amid recent reports of alleged organ trafficking in parts of Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police Force recently paraded four suspects, including two nephrologists, over an alleged organ-trafficking operation. Police said one of the suspects, Emmanuel Ode, allegedly admitted to recruiting victims and disclosed that a 22-year-old man was allegedly lured to a hospital in Abuja in April, where his kidney was reportedly harvested for $1,250, equivalent to about ₦1.7 million.
Investigators said the alleged syndicate targeted vulnerable and financially desperate young people in Nasarawa and neighbouring areas.
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