Nigeria Faces Significant Blood Supply Gap as Donations Fall Short of Demand

Nigeria continues to face a significant gap between the demand for blood and available supplies, with official figures showing that collections remain below the estimated national requirement.

The World Health Organization estimates that Nigeria needs between 1.8 million and 2 million units of blood annually. However, data from the National Blood Service Commission showed that 371,827 units were collected in 2024, indicating a substantial shortfall.

Health authorities have continued to encourage Nigerians who are medically eligible to donate blood voluntarily and regularly to help strengthen the country’s blood supply.

The World Health Organization has also stressed the importance of safe, voluntary and non-remunerated blood donation in ensuring adequate supplies for patients who require transfusions.

The persistent gap between blood demand and collection highlights the need for stronger voluntary donation programmes and sustained public participation to improve access to safe blood and blood products across Nigeria.