The Global Prolife Alliance (GPA) has written to Nigeria’s National Assembly to oppose a new bill. This bill aims to protect women’s health, especially regarding surrogacy. GPA is against it, even though it is supported by a member of the Assembly.
The group said its experts—ranging from medical, security, and religious backgrounds—found serious problems in the bill. They believe it puts Nigerian women’s health and dignity at risk and goes against the country’s religious values.
In a letter signed by its chairman, Dr. Philip Njemanze, the group shared medical and moral concerns. One issue is the legalization of egg harvesting. The bill includes all women in surrogacy deals—such as surrogate mothers, women donating eggs, and those planning to use them.
GPA warned that this could lead to large-scale egg harvesting. This procedure requires women to take strong hormones many times, which can lead to a dangerous condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), and in some cases, death.
Studies in Nigeria show that 11.7% to 15% of women undergoing IVF suffer from OHSS. That means out of 1,000 women, about 150 could face serious health problems like kidney failure, stroke, cancer, or even death.
Based on Nigeria’s population, experts estimate that over 10 million Nigerian women could die in 10 years if egg donation is legalized. GPA also pointed out that illegal egg donation already happens in schools and universities.
Some schools, like the University of Ibadan, have issued warnings about the dangers of egg donation. GPA argues that making it legal would only lead to more poor women being exploited.
GPA claims the bill supports commercial egg donation, even though it seems to ban it. For example, one part of the bill allows “compensation for pregnancy-related expenses.” GPA says this is unclear and could allow large payments, encouraging poor women to rent out their wombs.
The group also says the bill lacks important safety measures. There is no rule that women must receive proper health checks, psychological help, or full information about the risks they face.
GPA says the punishment for breaking surrogacy rules is too light. The bill suggests only a ₦2 million fine or two years in prison. GPA argues this makes it easy to break the law and sell babies under the cover of legal surrogacy.
The group also pointed out that surrogacy and egg donation go against religious beliefs. Christianity teaches that children should be born within marriage. The Bible calls children a gift from God and warns against adultery.
The Catholic Church has officially condemned surrogacy and egg donation. It believes these practices turn women into tools and treat human life like a product.
Islamic law also forbids surrogacy. It stresses that children should only be born within marriage and that family lineage should be clear. In 1985, top Muslim scholars ruled that surrogacy is forbidden because it disrespects the womb and creates confusion about parenthood.
GPA warned that legalizing surrogacy could make Nigeria a destination for foreigners seeking cheap fertility services. Poor Nigerian women could be targeted by international clinics for egg harvesting.
They also said that such a law could harm Nigeria’s reputation, encourage human trafficking, and worsen health risks. They claim the bill benefits global biotech companies looking to use Nigerian women’s eggs for cloning and organ trade.
The group claims that the same foreign companies that supported genetically modified food (GMOs) in Nigeria are behind this bill. They say these companies are harming Nigeria’s agriculture and national safety.
GPA even says private military contractors are training armed groups in rural areas to force people to accept GMOs. They describe a disturbing trend where rural women are pressured to trade their eggs for food seeds, risking their health.
Because of all this, GPA recommends the National Assembly should:
1. Reject the Surrogacy Bill entirely
2. Cancel the National Health Act 2014
3. Cancel the National Biosafety Act 2015
4. Hold a joint hearing on the legal, moral, and health issues of surrogacy
5. Create strong laws to ban all commercial surrogacy and egg harvesting
6. Protect women’s dignity and natural childbirth in Nigerian law
GPA concluded by warning that the bill, although it claims to protect women, actually allows their exploitation. They say it helps global companies profit from Nigerian women’s bodies. The group called on Nigerians to protect life, family, and women’s dignity as taught in the Bible and Qur’an.
