Professor Aliyu Abdu, a nephrologist at Bayero University, Kano, and consultant at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, has revealed that between 2015 and 2020, at least 651 k+dneys were tr@fficked and transplanted illeg@lly in Nigeria, with their global market value estimated at over $41 billion.
Speaking at a seminar on National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Standards in Abuja, Abdu explained that the ill+cit trade forms part of a larger international network, where about 10,000 k+dneys are sold annually on the black market.
He blamed the surge in illeg@l organ h@rvesting in Nigeria on weak regulatory enforcement despite the provisions of the National Health Act of 2014, which criminalises the commercial sale of h¥man org@ns and requires informed donor consent.
According to him, poverty and desperation make many victims easy targets, l¥red with money while being unaware of the severe health risks.
“Most victims are left without medical care after s¥rgery, facing lifelong health challenges and psychological tra¥ma,” he said, noting that the trade is orchestrated by well-coordinated cr+minal syndicates. These groups often include recruiters, medical professionals, drivers, travel agents, and insurers working together to carry out the operations.
Abdu added that the absence of cadaveric k+dney donations and the lack of functional organ banks in Nigeria have worsened the situation, forcing many to turn to illeg@l means to meet transplant needs.
