Atiku Alleges Tinubu Policies Force Nigerian Youths to Sell Organs

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a grave warning regarding Nigeria's current economic crisis under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Atiku stated that the government has severely impoverished Nigerians, leading young individuals to desperate measures, including selling their kidneys to survive the country's escalating cost of living and widespread poverty.

In a statement released on Friday, Atiku described the reported development as “heartbreaking,” emphasizing that the economic hardship confronting Nigerians has reached a frightening level. He stressed that young Nigerians should be channeling their talents and innovations towards building their future, rather than being compelled by poverty to consider selling their body organs. Atiku highlighted the growing reports of young people resorting to selling parts of their bodies, particularly kidneys, in desperate attempts to raise money, an act he called horrifying. He argued that when the cost-of-living crisis becomes unbearable, desperation can make the unthinkable appear like an option, which he believes should offend the conscience of every Nigerian.

Atiku Abubakar directly attributed the rising cost of basic necessities—including food, transportation, housing, education, healthcare, and electricity—to the policies of President Bola Tinubu's administration. He pointed out that in what he termed “Tinubu’s Nigeria,” nearly everything required for dignified living is becoming more expensive daily. Most disturbingly, he noted reports of young Nigerians being driven to sell their kidneys for as little as ₦1.7 million, a sum he believes should deeply trouble the nation.

The former Vice President contended that the reported sale of kidneys for survival indicates that Nigeria's economic crisis has surpassed ordinary hardship, pushing citizens into making terrifyingly desperate choices. He asserted that when young Nigerians begin to view their kidneys as emergency savings, the nation is no longer grappling with mere economic difficulty but with desperation at its most frightening level.

Atiku acknowledged that Nigerian laws prohibit commercial organ sales and organ trafficking. However, he argued that legislation alone cannot resolve the underlying poverty and desperation that make vulnerable young people easy prey for criminal networks. He criticized the Tinubu administration's economic reforms, stating that no government should celebrate its policies while its citizens are allegedly being forced into extreme measures simply to survive.

He urged for economic policies that prioritize the welfare of citizens, advocating for measures that would lead to lower food and transportation costs, accessible healthcare, and the creation of decent employment opportunities. Atiku emphasized that economic reform must have a human face, ensuring affordable food, cheaper transportation, accessible healthcare, decent jobs, and renewed hope for the next generation. He passionately argued that young people should be selling their ideas, talents, and innovation to the world, not their kidneys for survival at home, calling this the human cost of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis.

Atiku concluded with a resolute promise: “Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again.” In a video address to his supporters, he further condemned the economic situation, identifying the rising cost of living as a primary challenge. He reaffirmed that a government's primary responsibility is the security and welfare of its citizens, ensuring a low and affordable cost of living to mitigate poverty. Atiku claimed to have seen photographs purportedly showing young men who had undergone operations to remove their kidneys, stating, “This is heartbreaking. Our poverty has reached that level,” and affirmed that reducing the cost of living is central to his political agenda.