The Nigerian Association of Nephrology has raised alarm that at least 10 per cent of Nigerians, estimated at about 24 million people, are currently living with chronic kidney disease, a development it described as a growing public health crisis.
According to the Guardian, the President of NIAN, Prof. Olugbenga Awobusuyi, sounded the warning on Tuesday during the association’s 38th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He expressed concern over the increasing rate of kidney-related illnesses, describing the trend as “a matter of serious national concern,” and called for urgent and sustained intervention from all three tiers of government across the country.
Prof. Awobusuyi further revealed, “During our discussion at today’s conference, it was confirmed that chronic kidney disease affects about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s adult population, a figure that reflects the scale of the emerging healthcare crisis in the country.”
He noted that early diagnosis could significantly reduce the burden of the disease and improve patient outcomes.
“The real problem arises when it is not identified on time. Treatment then becomes extremely expensive, often pushing families into catastrophic situations and worsening the condition,” the professor warned.
The nephrologist urged the 36 state governments to set up more dialysis centres, stressing that federal health facilities alone cannot cope with the growing number of kidney patients.
He pointed out that although Nigeria has more than 200 functional dialysis units, only about 800 dialysis machines are currently operational nationwide, which he said is far below what is required to meet the rising demand.
Awobusuyi, however, commended states that have taken steps to establish dialysis centres to assist patients battling kidney disease.
He explained that the conference brought together major stakeholders,including government officials, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, and journalists, to boost public awareness and explore ways to strengthen kidney care services across the country.
According to him, addressing the chronic kidney disease burden will require closing long-standing gaps in the health system, improving early detection, and developing a more coordinated national response.
Participants at the conference also examined emerging trends in kidney care, recent research, especially within the Nigerian context and broader public health challenges linked to managing kidney disease nationwide.
