Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over reports that some young Nigerians are resorting to selling their kidneys to raise money amid the country’s cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku raised the concern in a post on X, saying the reports reflected the level of desperation among some young people struggling to survive.
He said Nigerians, particularly young people, should be pursuing careers, businesses, ideas and innovation rather than considering the sale of body organs as a means of survival.
Atiku blamed the situation on the rising cost of essential goods and services, including food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity.
He claimed that some Nigerians were reportedly being offered as little as N1.7 million for a kidney, describing the development as a disturbing indication of the severity of the economic hardship.
The former vice president said Nigeria already had laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and trafficking but argued that legislation alone could not address the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable people susceptible to exploitation.
He also criticised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration, saying reforms should be designed around the welfare and living conditions of citizens.
According to him, economic reforms should result in more affordable food and transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs and better opportunities for young Nigerians.
Atiku said the reports of people considering the sale of their organs showed that the economic crisis had gone beyond ordinary hardship and required urgent attention.
He called for greater efforts to address the conditions pushing vulnerable Nigerians towards dangerous and potentially exploitative decisions.