Nigeria’s blood supply remains a major healthcare concern, with the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA) reporting that its centres collected only 24,000 to 25,000 units of blood in 2025, far below the estimated national requirement of 1.8 million to two million units annually.
The disclosure points out the challenge of ensuring that hospitals have enough safe blood for patients who need transfusions, particularly during medical emergencies.
According to a report by The Punch, NBSA Director-General, Professor Saleh Yuguda, disclosed the figures at a media roundtable on voluntary blood donation in Abuja. He said Nigeria needed at least two per cent of its population to participate in blood donation to improve the country’s blood reserves.
The shortage has serious implications for women experiencing childbirth complications, accident victims, children with severe anaemia and people living with sickle cell disease or cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Nigeria collected 371,827 units of blood in 2024, based on official figures from the National Blood Service Commission. It also recorded an increase in voluntary donations, from 12,568 in 2024 to 16,344 in 2025. However, these figures remain insufficient to meet the country’s estimated annual demand.
Improving blood collection and distribution
To address the shortage, the NBSA is introducing a National Blood Management System, a digital platform designed to track blood collection, processing, distribution and transfusion. The system is expected to improve traceability and help identify the source of complications when they occur.
The agency is also strengthening the regulation of public and private blood banks and expanding its hospital linkage programme to improve blood distribution.
The WHO identifies voluntary, unpaid blood donation as the safest and most reliable foundation for a stable blood supply. It also recommends that countries collect at least 10 units per 1,000 people annually to meet basic clinical needs.
The figures underline the need for sustained investment in blood services and regular voluntary donations, rather than relying mainly on emergency appeals when patients urgently need blood.
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