20/09/2025
Over 650 Kidneys Illegally Harvested in Nigeria, Worth Over $41B in Global Black Market — BUK’s Prof Aliyu Abdu
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 kidneys were trafficked and transplanted illegally 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 illicit trade forms part of a larger international network, where about 10,000 kidneys are sold annually on the black market.
He blamed the surge in illegal organ harvesting in Nigeria on weak regulatory enforcement despite the provisions of the National Health Act of 2014, which criminalizes the commercial sale of human organs and requires informed donor consent. According to him, poverty and desperation make many victims easy targets, lured with money while being unaware of the severe health risks.
“Most victims are left without medical care after surgery, facing lifelong health challenges and psychological trauma,” he said, noting that the trade is orchestrated by well-coordinated criminal 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 kidney donations and the lack of functional organ banks in Nigeria have worsened the situation, forcing many to turn to illegal means to meet transplant needs.