The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to combat unethical and illegal organ and tissue transplantation in Nigeria with the inauguration of the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC).
The committee, chaired by Professor Philip O. Abiodun, was established in line with the National Health Act 2014 and is mandated to develop national standards and guidelines for transplantation. Earlier in March 2025, the committee unveiled the Standards and Guidelines for Establishing and Coordinating Organ/Tissue Transplantation in Nigeria, a document that sets out ethical, safe, and globally aligned practices.
Speaking at a one-day stakeholder seminar in Abuja, Prof. Abiodun said the event marked the beginning of nationwide dissemination of the guidelines. He warned that without clear protocols and regulation, Nigeria risks unsafe practices, exploitation, and public distrust in its health system.
“The 2025 Standards and Guidelines are Nigeria’s powerful tool to regulate every aspect of organ and tissue transplantation—ensuring donor and recipient safety, maintaining quality care, and eliminating malpractice and unethical conduct,” he said.
The NTHISC Chairman cited disturbing reports of underage and impoverished Nigerians being coerced into organ donation, as well as cases where young female undergraduates are repeatedly recruited to donate eggs without adequate risk awareness. He stressed that effective implementation of the guidelines would protect vulnerable groups and guarantee ethical practice.
Prof. Abiodun outlined next steps, including the registration of all transplant practitioners and institutions, the establishment of a National Organ Donation and Transplantation Registry, the creation of organ and tissue banking facilities, and the integration of transplantation services into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) framework.
He also called for support from philanthropists, development partners, and the private sector to strengthen implementation through funding, technical expertise, and advocacy.
The President of Clarion Call Care Foundation (CCCF), Dr. Iyore James, pledged her organization’s support in promoting ethical practices and improved standards in transplantation.
The seminar, themed “Promoting Safe, Ethical and Accessible Transplantation Practices through Awareness and Stakeholders’ Engagement”, brought together health professionals, policymakers, and civil society groups to chart the way forward.
