A professor of medicine at Bayero University Kano (BUK) and consultant nephrologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Professor Aliyu Abdu, has revealed that at least 651 kidneys, valued at more than $41 billion, were trafficked and transplanted illegally in Nigeria between 2015 and 2020.

He made the disclosure at a seminar on National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Standards in Abuja, warning that the country has become a hotspot in the global black market trade. Globally, an estimated 10,000 kidneys are sold every year, according to medical reports.

Weak Regulation Fuels Organ Trafficking

Prof. Abdu explained that while the National Health Act of 2014 prohibits the commercial sale of human organs and requires donor consent, enforcement in Nigeria remains weak. This gap, he said, leaves poor citizens highly vulnerable to exploitation.

“Victims are mostly impoverished people who are easily influenced by financial incentives and ignorant of the possible risks involved. Many donors are abandoned without proper care after surgery, left battling depression and disease,” he stated.

A Thriving Criminal Network

According to Abdu, illegal organ trafficking in Nigeria is run by a highly organised criminal network that involves:

• Brokers and ‘organ hunters’

• Some physicians and nurses

• Ambulance drivers

• Travel and insurance agents

He also identified the absence of cadaveric donations and functional organ banks as a major factor fueling the underground market.

Call for Stronger Action

The nephrologist called on the federal government to strengthen regulation, establish organ banks, and enforce penalties on medical practitioners found aiding the black market. He also urged awareness campaigns to protect vulnerable citizens from exploitation.

Nigeria has witnessed growing concern over unethical medical practices in recent years, with experts calling for reforms to safeguard the country’s healthcare system.