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Nigerians and international bodies have called for a surrogacy ban in reaction to DUBAWA’s in-depth report.
The report reveals how misinformation is weaponised to lure women into the practice, Facebook is utilised for advertising, and Nigeria’s lack of law in relation to surrogacy allows for exploitation.
Following publication, International bodies that work at the intersection of women’s rights and reproductive health called for the ban of surrogacy on Facebook and in respective countries.
StopSurrogacyNowUK (@WombsNotForRent), a women’s rights group in the United Kingdom (UK) fighting against the UK proposals on law reform, wrote on X:
“We have been warning about how Facebook is used to target women for #surrogacy for some time.” They added, “We are pleased to finally hear directly from surrogate mothers in Nigeria. This investigative journalism from @sim_bakare reveals the true exploitative nature of international #surrogacy, something we have been warning about for some time.”
Another international non-profit organisation, Declaration of Casablanca (@CasaDeclaration), seeking to protect women and children from the global surrogacy market, referencing the documentary on X, said, “This is exactly why we are fighting for the universal abolition of surrogacy.”
In an email correspondence, Surrogacy Concern (@SurrogConcern), a non-governmental organisation campaigning against the liberalisation of surrogacy laws, requested that DUBAWA inform them of any British commissioning couples coming to Nigeria for surrogacy. They also affirmed on X in reaction to the documentary that surrogacy “needs to be globally banned because it is baby buying.”
Facebook criticised
With the report garnering over 120,000 views in 24 hours on social media, Nigerians have also criticised Facebook.
“This is such an eye opener,” Purple Passion (@annie_chrissss) said on X. “A Facebook page Agency for Surrogate mothers is genuinely the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in recent times.”
“You see Facebook…the atrocities that happen on that app,” Odika Odi Kpoba, odika odi egolu
(@okalamadunammuo) said, alluding to the frequent occurrence of human rights violations on the platform.
Also calling for a ban on surrogacy, @tawakalituomotolani9811 and @Lifewithtemi said, “Surrogacy needs to be banned,” in reaction to the documentary on YouTube.
Similarly, on X, Abdul (@Oyindamorela_) said, “Surrogacy should be outlawed and should attract criminal charges!”
Elderly Cynical Feminist (@honeydropz999), in her reaction, on the micro-blogging app, also affirmed that “Surrogacy needs to be outlawed, period.”
On LinkedIn, CNN Academy’25 fellow Korede Badmus calls for a ban, stating that “when desperation meets exploitation, women pay the price with their bodies, health, and dignity.”
Meanwhile, as reactions continue to trail the report, with some citizens calling for a ban, other Nigerians who had previously been in support of surrogacy have changed their stance, calling the practice exploitative.
Uche is a girl, (@UchayOkolee) said on X, “God, please forgive me for thinking that surrogacy was a good idea. OMG!!! I see why the Catholic church has kicked against it so much. Oh dear!!”
Similarly, YM (@JemimAransiola) also said, “I didn’t quite understand the argument against surrogacy and how it’s exploitative before, but I have silently read superior arguments and I absolutely get it now. I love how this video sheds even more light on the issue.”
SONMA (@king_omaa) added, “I don’t know why I didn’t get the argument early enough. I get it now.”
