“Some Nigerians Now Sell Their Kidneys For ₦1.7m” – Atiku Blames Tinubu For Rising Economic Hardship

• Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised alarm over reports that some young Nigerians are allegedly considering selling their kidneys and other body organs to cope with worsening economic hardship.
• He linked the reported desperation to the rising cost of food, transportation, rent, school fees, healthcare and electricity, while criticising the Tinubu administration over the impact of its economic policies.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over reports that some young Nigerians are allegedly selling or considering selling their kidneys to survive the country’s worsening economic hardship.

Atiku, in a lengthy social media post, described the reports as disturbing, saying young Nigerians should be building careers, businesses and innovative ideas instead of resorting to selling parts of their bodies for money.

“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.

Young people should be selling dreams, ideas and innovation, not their body organs.”

The former Vice President said the reports reflected the extent of the financial pressure facing Nigerians, particularly young people who are struggling to meet basic needs.

According to Atiku, the rising cost of food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicine and electricity has made life increasingly difficult for ordinary Nigerians.

He expressed particular concern over reports that some young people were allegedly willing to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million.

“When young Nigerians begin to see their kidneys as emergency savings, we are no longer talking about ordinary economic hardship.

We are talking about desperation at its most frightening.”

Atiku acknowledged that Nigerian laws prohibit commercial organ trading and trafficking but argued that legislation alone would not solve the problem.

He said the government must also address the poverty and desperation that leave vulnerable people exposed to exploitation by criminal networks.

The opposition politician also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the success of economic reforms should be measured by how those policies affect ordinary Nigerians.

He said no government should celebrate economic reforms while citizens are allegedly being pushed towards extreme measures to afford basic necessities.

Atiku called for policies that would make food, transportation, healthcare and other essential services more affordable while creating decent jobs and opportunities for young Nigerians.

“Economic reform must have a human face. It must mean affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs and renewed hope for the next generation.”

He maintained that Nigerian youths should be recognised globally for their talents, innovation and entrepreneurship rather than being driven by economic hardship to consider selling body organs.

Atiku concluded by linking the reported kidney sales to what he described as the human cost of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis.

“This is the human cost of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis.

Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again. -AA”