Facing a critical shortage of organs, compounded by ethical concerns and illegal trafficking, Nigeria has introduced comprehensive guidelines for organ and tissue transplants.
The new framework, announced by the Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, aims to bring transparency and international best practices to the sector, explicitly banning the sale of organs.
The guidelines cover a broad spectrum of procedures, including the donation, storage, and use of kidneys, livers, bone marrow, corneas, gametes, and embryos, as well as surrogacy.
According to health officials, the initiative is a direct response to the exploitation of vulnerable Nigerians by criminal organizations, offering money or false promises in exchange for organs.
The goal is to establish a system based on voluntary donation and equitable allocation, protecting vulnerable populations from further exploitation.