Atiku Raises Alarm: ‘Nigerian Youths Now Selling Kidneys to Survive Under Tinubu’

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over reports that some young Nigerians are resorting to selling their kidneys in desperate attempts to cope with the country’s worsening cost-of-living pressures.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the comments in a statement posted on his X account on Friday, September 4, 2026, while reacting to reports concerning a Nigerian who allegedly sold his kidney.

He described the reports as deeply disturbing, arguing that the situation reflects the extent of economic pressure being experienced by vulnerable Nigerians. Atiku said young people should be pursuing opportunities, innovation and productive ventures rather than contemplating the sale of body organs to raise money.

The former vice president linked the alleged development to the broader cost-of-living crisis, pointing to rising expenses for basic necessities such as food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicines and electricity.

According to reports on his statement, Atiku alleged that some young Nigerians were being driven to consider selling their kidneys for amounts as low as N1.7 million, which he presented as evidence of the severity of the economic difficulties confronting citizens.

Atiku directed much of his criticism at President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, arguing that the administration’s reforms have increased financial pressure on households rather than sufficiently shielding citizens from rising living costs.

His latest comments are part of a broader criticism he has mounted against the Tinubu administration over the economy. In recent months, Atiku has repeatedly argued that the removal of fuel subsidies and other economic reforms have contributed to the hardship faced by Nigerians.

The former vice president has also advocated alternative approaches to economic management, including a targeted and time-bound intervention in the petroleum sector. His criticism of the government has increasingly focused on the gap between higher government revenues and the financial difficulties still confronting ordinary Nigerians.

The kidney-selling allegation has consequently added a particularly sensitive dimension to the political debate over Nigeria’s economic direction. However, the reports cited by Atiku describe the practice as involving some individuals and should not be interpreted as evidence that kidney sales are widespread among Nigerian youths without further independent verification.

The issue also raises concerns beyond politics, particularly about poverty, exploitation and the vulnerability of people facing severe financial distress. Any illegal or unsafe organ trade would carry serious health and ethical implications, making the circumstances behind such reports a matter requiring careful investigation.

Atiku’s intervention has once again placed the cost-of-living crisis at the centre of political debate, with the former vice president using the reported cases to challenge the Tinubu administration’s economic record and warn about the consequences of hardship on Nigeria’s younger population.