By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over reports that young Nigerians are selling their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million, describing the development as a disturbing consequence of the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), raised the concern in a statement on Friday, saying economic hardship was pushing some young Nigerians to consider desperate measures to survive.
He said young Nigerians should be using their talents, ideas and creativity to build better lives rather than resorting to selling body organs.
“At a time when young people should be selling dreams, ideas and innovation, they are reportedly being driven to sell their body organs,” Atiku said.
He blamed rising costs of food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity on the economic policies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku said the reported sale of kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million went beyond ordinary economic hardship, describing it as a sign of extreme desperation.
“When young Nigerians begin to see their kidneys as emergency savings, we are no longer talking about ordinary economic hardship. We are talking about desperation at its most frightening,” he said.
The former vice president noted that Nigeria has laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and organ trafficking but said enforcement alone would not address the poverty and desperation that leave vulnerable people exposed to exploitation.
“Laws alone cannot cure the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable young people easy prey for criminal networks,” he said.
Atiku called for economic reforms focused on improving the living conditions of Nigerians, including reducing the cost of food and transportation, expanding access to healthcare and creating decent jobs.
“Economic reform must have a human face. It must mean affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs and renewed hope for the next generation,” he said.
He added that young Nigerians should be able to monetise their ideas, talents and innovation rather than sell their organs to survive.
The comments come amid reports of alleged kidney sales and a police investigation into an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking operation involving four suspects, including two nephrologists.
