Nigeria’s economic hardship pushing youths to sell kidneys for survival — Atiku

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over reports of young Nigerians allegedly selling their kidneys to cope with the country’s rising cost of living.

Atiku, in a post on X on Friday, said the reported development reflected the severity of the economic hardship confronting young people in Nigeria.

He cited reports that some young Nigerians were allegedly selling their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million, describing the situation as a disturbing consequence of desperation caused by increasing living costs.

Reacting to the reports, Atiku said young Nigerians should be using their talents, ideas and innovation to build their futures rather than being driven to consider selling body organs as a means of survival.

He linked the situation to the increasing cost of essential goods and services, including food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity.

Atiku argued that Nigeria’s existing laws against commercial organ sales and organ trafficking would not, on their own, address the economic conditions that could leave vulnerable people exposed to exploitation.

He said economic policies should be assessed not only by their broader reforms but also by their impact on the daily lives of Nigerians, particularly young people.

He wrote, “I have heard disturbing stories about the extent to which young Nigerians are being driven simply to survive. Perhaps the most horrifying are the growing reports of young people selling parts of their bodies: kidneys in particular, in desperate attempts to raise money.

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

“Yet when the cost-of-living crisis becomes unbearable, desperation begins to make the…