Young Nigerians Selling Kidneys to Survive Under Tinubu, Atiku Alleges

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over reports that some young Nigerians are allegedly selling their kidneys in desperate attempts to cope with the country’s economic hardship.

Atiku raised the concern in a statement posted on his social media platforms on Friday, where he criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the rising cost of living.

“Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again,” Atiku said, while reiterating his promise to reverse the current administration’s fuel subsidy removal policy if elected.

The former vice president said he had heard what he described as disturbing reports about the extent to which young Nigerians were being pushed into desperate measures to survive.

He identified reports of young people allegedly selling parts of their bodies, particularly kidneys, as among the most troubling developments.

“Young people should be selling dreams, ideas and innovation, not their body organs,” Atiku said.

He argued that when the cost of living becomes unbearable, desperation could make otherwise unthinkable choices appear to vulnerable people as options.

According to Atiku, the rising cost of food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicines and electricity has made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to live with dignity.

He further claimed that some young Nigerians were reportedly being offered as little as ₦1.7 million for their kidneys.

However, specific reports of young Nigerians selling their kidneys for such amounts have not, in themselves, established the scale of the alleged practice nationwide.

Atiku said the reported development should be a source of concern for the country, arguing that young Nigerians should be building careers, starting businesses, raising families and pursuing their aspirations rather than considering the sale of body organs as a means of survival.

“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 ADC presidential candidate also acknowledged that Nigeria has laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and organ trafficking but argued that legislation alone could not address the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable people susceptible to criminal networks.

He criticised the government for celebrating economic reforms while Nigerians continue to struggle with basic necessities.

“No government should celebrate ‘reforms’ while young Nigerians are being reduced to selling parts of themselves to eat, pay rent, settle school fees or survive,” Atiku said.

He called for economic policies with what he described as a “human face”, including affordable food, lower transportation costs, accessible healthcare, decent employment opportunities and renewed hope for young Nigerians.

Atiku has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies and has promised to pursue measures aimed at reducing the cost of living if elected president in 2027.