Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed deep concern over reports that young Nigerians are allegedly selling their kidneys to cope with the rising cost of living in the country. In a post shared on his X handle, Atiku described the reports as a disturbing consequence of desperation driven by increasing living costs.
Reports of Kidney Sales for N1.7 Million
Atiku noted that young Nigerians are reportedly selling their kidneys for as little as N1.7 million. He said this is a horrifying development that should break the heart of the nation. According to him, the situation is linked to the rising costs of essential goods and services, including food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine, and electricity.
In his post, Atiku 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."
Desperation at Its Most Frightening
Atiku emphasized that young Nigerians should be selling dreams, ideas, and innovation, not their body organs. He argued that when the cost-of-living crisis becomes unbearable, desperation begins to make the unthinkable appear like an option. He stressed that this should offend the conscience of every Nigerian.
"In Tinubu's Nigeria, almost everything required to live with dignity is becoming more expensive by the day: food, transport, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity," he wrote. "Yet young Nigerians are reportedly being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million."
Laws Alone Cannot Cure Poverty
The former Vice President acknowledged that Nigeria already has laws prohibiting commercial organ sales and organ trafficking. However, he argued that laws alone cannot cure the poverty and desperation that make vulnerable young people easy prey for criminal networks.
"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 stated. He called for economic reform with a human face, meaning affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs, and renewed hope for the next generation.
Atiku concluded: "Our young people should be selling their ideas, talents and innovation to the world and not their kidneys for ₦1.7 million just to survive at home. This is the human cost of Nigeria's cost-of-living crisis."
