Mirian Gom 
consultant plastic surgeon, Dr Torngee Malu
ABUJA, Nigeria – A consultant plastic surgeon, Dr Torngee Malu, says there is no fixed monetary value for kidney donation, urging Nigerians to distinguish between lawful organ donation and illegal organ trafficking amid ongoing investigations into alleged kidney harvesting and human trafficking.
Malu made the clarification on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he explained that organ donation should not be viewed as a commercial transaction.
Responding to questions about compensation for kidney donors, the surgeon said existing laws permit reimbursement or compensation for donors but do not assign a fixed market price to human organs.
“I will still have to follow the law. If you go to the US or the UK, they say there should be reimbursement, what people may call compensation,” Malu said.
“People also think that kidney failure only affects rich people. It doesn’t, it affects a lot of poor people. So, if we talk of putting a monetary value to it, that’s not a good way to look at it,” he said.
“The question is: Who needs it? Who wants to give it? Who is willing to do it at this rate? So, it’s not about a fixed rate to give for kidneys. There’s no fixed rate.”
Malu emphasised that kidney transplantation is a highly specialised medical procedure that should not be confused with criminal organ trafficking.
He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health strengthened Nigeria’s regulatory framework in 2025 by introducing updated guidelines governing organ donation and transplantation.
Explaining the transplant process, Malu said separate specialist teams carry out kidney removal and transplantation after comprehensive compatibility tests are completed.
“So, you see, it’s a very, very technical process. Because if you keep the kidney for some time, it dies off, it’s no more useful,” he said.
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