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The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for a second reading a bill seeking to establish a regulatory body for organ harvesting, transplants, and donations in Nigeria.
Titled A Bill for an Act to Make Provisions for a Regulatory Body for Organ Harvesting, Transplanting, and Donations and for Related Matters, the proposed legislation aims to create a structured framework for organ transplantation across the country.
Leading the debate, the sponsor of the bill, Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), stated, “The primary objective of this bill is to create a framework for organ harvesting, transplanting, and donation in Nigeria.”
Soli emphasised that the bill is designed to “enable the saving of lives through organ transplants” while also ensuring the rehabilitation of individuals with organ failure.
He added that it seeks to “facilitate research and educational measures related to organ harvesting, transplanting, and donation.”
According to the bill, the proposed regulatory committee will be chaired by the Minister of Health, with the Minister of Justice, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association, and two other medical professionals as members.
The functions of the committee include “establishing policies to effectively regulate organ harvesting, transplants, and donations” and “providing guidance for educational initiatives to increase organ donations.”
Additionally, the bill stipulates that individuals aged 21 and above may donate their organs, with close family members—“the surviving spouse, child, parent, sibling, or another relative”—also eligible to donate if there is no family objection.
The explanatory memorandum states that the bill aims to regulate organ harvesting and transplantation practices in Nigeria, ensuring ethical and legal compliance.
