ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the legislative development of organ donation and transplantation in Nigeria. As well as issues relating to the capacity and infrastructures for organ transplant operations in Nigeria, the epidemiological burden of renal disease, and questions of resource allocation arising from the scarcity of healthcare resources in Nigeria. Although the epidemiological burden of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is on the increase in Nigeria, it pales in comparison to more common diseases like malaria, which kills more people annually than ESRD. In addition, transplantation programmes are far more expensive to establish than malaria control programmes. A way out might be for Nigeria to focus on renal disease prevention programmes, such as the treatment and control of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS. Under the National Health Act, authorization for the use of cadaveric tissues or organs must be given by the deceased themselves, and such authorizations must be made in the deceased's life time.
