The Federal Government has expressed deep concern over emerging reports of an alleged kidney market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and has initiated an investigation to address the issue. Terming the act as barbaric and criminal, Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, affirmed a commitment to dealing decisively with individuals involved in illegal human kidney transactions.
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In a statement issued by the Director of Media & Public Relations, Patricia Deworitshe, the government emphasized the importance of informed consent in kidney donations, stressing that both sellers and buyers engaging in this illicit trade, along with implicated medical practitioners and facilities, will face legal consequences.
Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Health urged the public to refrain from participating in such unlawful practices and encouraged reporting any information that could lead to the arrest of perpetrators. The statement cited the National Health Act (NHA) of 2014, Sections 51-56, as the legal basis for prosecuting individuals involved in this illegal trade, outlining penalties such as a fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment for not less than two years. The government reiterates its dedication to improving regulatory standards for healthcare and calls for public cooperation to eradicate this concerning issue.
