Atiku Decries Economic Hardship Driving Youth to Sell Kidneys
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concern over reports that some young Nigerians are allegedly being driven by severe economic hardship into considering the sale of their kidneys and other body organs.
Atiku expressed the concern in a statement posted on his X account on Thursday, describing the reports as deeply disturbing and a sign of the desperation confronting vulnerable young Nigerians amid the country’s cost-of-living crisis.
According to the former Vice President, young Nigerians should be using their talents, ideas and creativity to build businesses, careers and innovations rather than being pushed into desperate decisions involving their bodies.
He argued that when young people begin considering their organs as a means of raising emergency money, the situation goes beyond ordinary financial difficulty and becomes a serious social and humanitarian concern.
Atiku specifically linked the development to what he described as rising living costs, pointing to the increasing expenses associated with food, transportation, rent, education, healthcare and electricity. He said these pressures were making it increasingly difficult for many ordinary Nigerians, particularly young people, to achieve financial independence.
The former Vice President also claimed that some young Nigerians were reportedly being offered as much as ₦1.7 million for a kidney. However, the figure could not be independently verified by PUNCH at the time of its report, and it was not attributed to a specific government agency or verified study.
Growing Economic Pressure on Young Nigerians
Nigeria’s young population remains one of the country’s greatest economic assets, with millions of young people pursuing education, employment, entrepreneurship and professional careers. However, persistent economic difficulties have continued to create significant challenges for many households.
The rising cost of essential goods and services has placed pressure on families and individuals. For young Nigerians who are unemployed, underemployed or struggling to establish small businesses, the challenge can be particularly severe.
Atiku has repeatedly argued that economic policies should be judged not only by government statistics but also by their effect on the everyday lives of citizens.
In a statement issued in August, he said the cost-of-living crisis had weakened the purchasing power of millions of Nigerians, affected small businesses and pushed young people further away from employment, access to capital and economic independence.
The latest comments therefore form part of a broader criticism by Atiku of the government’s handling of the economy. He has consistently called for policies that would reduce the cost of living while creating opportunities for Nigerians to earn sustainable incomes.
Organ Trafficking Concerns
The concerns raised by Atiku also come against the backdrop of reports of alleged organ trafficking investigations in Nigeria.
According to PUNCH, the Nigeria Police Force recently paraded four suspects, including two nephrologists, in connection with an alleged organ-trafficking operation. Police investigators reportedly said one suspect admitted to recruiting victims and alleged that a 22-year-old man had been taken to a hospital in Abuja in April, where his kidney was allegedly removed.
Such allegations have heightened concern about the vulnerability of financially desperate individuals to criminal networks.
However, it is important to distinguish between verified cases under investigation and broader claims about young Nigerians selling organs because of economic hardship. Allegations of this nature require careful investigation and verification by law-enforcement authorities, medical professionals and other competent institutions.
Nigeria already has laws prohibiting the commercial exploitation of human organs and organ trafficking. Atiku acknowledged this but argued that legislation alone would not address the poverty and desperation that can make vulnerable people targets for criminal networks.
Calls for Human-Centred Economic Policies
Atiku’s intervention comes as political debate continues over the economic direction of the country under President Bola Tinubu.
The former Vice President has repeatedly criticised the administration’s economic policies, arguing that rising prices and reduced purchasing power have placed excessive pressure on citizens. The government, however, has defended its economic reforms and maintained that the measures are intended to address longstanding structural problems and put the economy on a stronger footing.
Atiku has said that economic reforms must have what he describes as a “human face,” with government attention focused on making essential goods more affordable, reducing transportation costs, improving healthcare access and creating decent employment opportunities.
His argument is that economic growth should ultimately translate into improved living standards for ordinary citizens.
In August, he also said young Nigerians needed a government that would create opportunities for prosperity rather than one that simply expected them to endure hardship. He proposed a major financing programme for startups and entrepreneurs as part of his economic agenda.
The Responsibility to Protect Vulnerable Youths
The issue raised by Atiku has also renewed attention on the responsibility of government and society to protect vulnerable young people from exploitation.
Economic hardship can create conditions in which individuals become susceptible to dangerous promises from people offering quick financial solutions. For young Nigerians facing unemployment, mounting school expenses or difficulties supporting their families, the absence of reliable economic opportunities can make them particularly vulnerable.
Experts and authorities therefore face the challenge of ensuring that young people have legitimate pathways to employment, education, entrepreneurship and financial independence.
Government intervention, however, cannot be limited to short-term financial assistance. Sustainable employment, accessible education, support for small businesses, vocational training and affordable healthcare are among the areas that can help young people build more secure futures.
Civil society organisations, religious institutions, community leaders and families also have roles to play in protecting vulnerable individuals and reporting suspected exploitation to the appropriate authorities.
A Warning About Desperation
Atiku’s comments have placed the issue of economic hardship and alleged organ trafficking at the centre of renewed public discussion.
For many Nigerians, the broader concern is not simply whether isolated cases of organ trafficking exist, but what circumstances could make a financially desperate person vulnerable to such exploitation in the first place.
The former Vice President maintained that young Nigerians should be building careers, establishing businesses, pursuing education and developing innovative ideas rather than being pushed into desperate measures to survive.
His remarks also underline the importance of treating economic policy as a matter of human welfare. While debates over inflation, government revenue, subsidies, taxation and economic reforms often focus on figures and statistics, the consequences of those policies are ultimately experienced by individuals and families.
The allegation that economic hardship could push young people toward selling body organs, whether in isolated cases or as part of broader criminal exploitation, presents a serious warning to policymakers and society.
For Nigeria’s large youth population, the availability of safe and legitimate opportunities remains crucial. Creating an economy in which young people can earn a decent living, access education and healthcare, establish businesses and plan for the future may be one of the most effective ways of reducing their vulnerability to exploitation.
As the political debate over Nigeria’s economy continues, Atiku’s latest comments have brought renewed attention to the human cost of economic hardship and the urgent need to ensure that vulnerable young Nigerians are protected from exploitation while being given meaningful opportunities to build their futures.
