For years, Nigerians seeking advanced medical treatment have travelled abroad in what became known as "medical tourism." But a quiet revolution is underway in the fertility sector: **reverse medical tourism** is now taking root, with international intended parents—particularly from the UK, USA, Canada, and Europe—flocking to Nigeria for IVF and surrogacy services.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The scale of this shift is striking. Official figures from England's Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) show that parental order applications involving babies born through Nigerian surrogacy arrangements rose from just **six in 2015 to 59 in 2025**. This dramatic increase makes Nigeria the **second most popular international surrogacy destination for intended parents in England**, behind only the United States. Previously, Georgia and Ukraine held the second and third spots.
Industry observers now describe the emergence of a new **"fertility corridor" linking Britain and Nigeria**.
Why Nigeria?
Several converging factors are driving this trend.
Cost is the most powerful draw
A full surrogacy journey in the United States can exceed **$150,000 to $200,000**. In the UK, costs range from **$60,000 to $90,000** with legally restrictive altruistic-only arrangements. In Nigeria, comprehensive packages—including IVF, surrogate management, legal agreements, antenatal care, and delivery—are available from just $19,000 to $42,000.
For IVF alone, the disparity is equally stark. A cycle in Nigeria costs approximately $2,730 (₦2.1 million), compared to $14,000–$20,000 in the US and £5,000–£8,000 in the UK. As Dr Sunday Onuh, Chairman of the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH), put it: "We have seen people who have done IVF five times in the United Kingdom, and they just come here once, and they conceive and go back." In his practice alone, 40% of patients now come from outside Nigeria.
Success rates are another key factor. Reputable Nigerian fertility clinics report IVF success rates of 60–80% per cycle for women under 35, comparable to and in some cases exceeding rates in Western countries.
Clinical flexibility also matters. While US and European regulators mandate single embryo transfer protocols, Nigerian clinics are permitted to transfer up to three embryos per cycle, a critical advantage for intended parents with limited embryos or those who have experienced repeated implantation failure.
Cultural and ethnic matching further strengthens Nigeria's appeal. Fertility lawyer Louisa Ghevaert notes: "Given limited availability of African donor eggs and surrogates in the UK, Nigeria can offer more options." For British families of African heritage, family connections and diaspora networks lower barriers even further.
The Legal Grey Zone
Yet for all its promise, Nigeria's surrogacy industry operates in a legal grey area. The country currently lacks comprehensive federal legislation regulating surrogacy. As Oluwadamilola Adejumo, a senior law lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, explains: "There is no regulatory framework for surrogacy in Nigeria. What goes on is that most institutions are just doing things based on what they think is right."
Surrogacy contracts are legally valid in principle, but their enforceability can vary. The surrogate is typically regarded as the legal mother at birth until parental rights are formally transferred through a court order. For international intended parents, this creates significant uncertainty around consent procedures, parental rights, compensation arrangements, and the legal status of children born through surrogacy agreements.
A Regulatory Turning Point?
Change may be on the horizon. A Nigeria Surrogacy Regulatory Commission Bill was introduced in 2024 and passed its second reading in the National Assembly, alongside a Women's Health and Surrogacy Protection Bill introduced in 2025. These bills signal clear legislative intent to formalize the sector, introducing provisions for surrogate and intended parent eligibility, mandatory psychological assessments, and oversight of surrogacy agencies. However, progress has been slow.
The Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) is working with the federal government and the National Assembly towards ensuring an effective regulatory framework. The inclusion of fertility treatments in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has also been proposed to make ART more affordable for Nigerians who need it.
The Road Ahead
Nigeria's emergence as a global fertility destination represents a profound shift in the medical tourism landscape. For international intended parents, it offers an accessible path to parenthood that was previously out of reach. For Nigeria, it presents an economic opportunity, but also a responsibility to protect the rights of surrogates, intended parents, and children through clear, enforceable legislation.
As one industry observer noted, the cost difference between Nigeria and Western countries "is the difference between having a child and not having a child." The challenge now is to ensure that this life changing opportunity is built on a foundation of ethical practice, legal clarity, and the protection of all parties involved.