Nigerian music video director TG Omori has revealed the staggering cost of treating kidney failure, saying even a single dialysis session could be beyond the reach of a minimum-wage earner.
Omori spoke about his experience during an interview aired on September 23, 2026, on the Afropolitan podcast, where he discussed the financial strain of dialysis while awaiting a kidney transplant.
According to the director, a dialysis session costs between N50,000 and N70,000 at some hospitals, while he paid between N150,000 and N200,000 at a private facility.
He said patients may require up to three dialysis sessions a week, pushing weekly treatment costs to between N500,000 and N600,000.
“So, a minimum-wage person is dead already on one session,” Omori said.
He estimated that undergoing dialysis for about a year while waiting for a transplant could cost as much as N31 million, excluding the cost of tests, medication and potential complications.
Omori added that even someone earning N1 million monthly could struggle to sustain the treatment.
“So, automatically, if your salary is even one million naira a month, it can’t serve you,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience, the music video director said the illness changed his perspective on the role of money and financial support in dealing with serious health challenges.
“Even though money can’t buy happiness, money can still buy some time,” Omori said.
