Nigerian Surrogate Cries Out After Contract Includes Organ Removal 

A surrogate mother has raised alarm over exploitation by a private surrogacy agency, accusing it of introducing shocking and harmful terms after she became pregnant. In a viral video circulating on social media, the woman tearfully recounted her experience, claiming she initially signed a standard agreement before undergoing IVF treatment. 

According to her, she visited the agency on the first day of her menstrual cycle, signed the contract, and was prepared for the procedure. She said she became pregnant about a week after the IVF treatment. However, shortly after, the agency reportedly presented her with a second contract containing what she described as “ridiculous” and disturbing conditions.

The new terms required her consent for the removal of any of her organs during childbirth. She also noted that the agreement stated she would receive N1 million as compensation if she contracted HIV during the process, and N250,000 if her uterus or fallopian tube was damaged during the process.

“My life is just like a joke in the hands of these people,” she said in the video.

The woman further claimed that she was abandoned after rejecting the new terms, leaving her to care for twins without financial or medical support. She added that she is currently unable to work or provide adequately for the children.

The incident has reignited concerns about surrogacy practices in Nigeria. While surrogacy is becoming increasingly common, the industry remains largely unregulated, raising risks of exploitation. Globally, the surrogacy industry is valued at $27.9 billion. However, the United Nations has raised concerns about the practice, describing certain forms of surrogacy as a potential form of violence against women and girls.

Concerns about exploitation are also highlighted in an investigative report titled “How Facebook misinformation, legal loopholes throw Nigerian women into surrogacy ditch,” by NFM founder Simbiat Bakare. The report examines how deceptive contracts and legal gaps have exposed women to abuse within the system.

The investigation details the case of Temitope Afolabi, a Nigerian woman who reportedly turned to surrogacy after her husband faced possible imprisonment over N48 million debt. After unsuccessfully attempting to sell a kidney to raise funds, she opted for surrogacy as a last resort.