Why Nigerian men are turning to penis enlargement despite the risks

Nigeria’s social media erupted this past weekend after autopsy results confirmed that British-Nigerian influencer Igho “Tiny” Ubiribo, 43, died from complications tied to a penis enlargement procedure, according to a report by Peoples Gazette.

Ubiribo, a socialite and close associate of Grammy-nominated singer Davido, died in March, but the cause of his death only became public in September following an inquest at London’s Inner West Court. His death has reignited debate over why men — long left out of conversations around cosmetic body enhancement — are increasingly turning to such procedures, according to the Gazette.

The outlet outlined several drivers behind the trend. A small share of cases stem from genuine medical conditions: roughly six in every 1,000 men have a micropenis, according to Pollock Clinic data cited by the Gazette, while Peyronie’s disease, which causes scar tissue that shrinks the penis over time, is another recognized cause. But most motivations, the Gazette reported, are rooted in cultural belief rather than medicine — including the widespread but scientifically unsupported notion that penis size determines sexual performance, alongside low self-esteem, pressure to fit stereotypes of Black male virility, and a desire for attention on social media through images showing off a “bulge.”

Separately, an investigation by Vanguard found that this demand has fueled a booming, unregulated market of pills, injections, herbal mixtures and mechanical devices, advertised aggressively on billboards, WhatsApp, social media and even scrawled on road dividers. According to Vanguard, hospitals are seeing a rising number of men arriving with severe complications, often after delaying treatment out of shame.

Several men interviewed by Vanguard described life-altering harm. A 30-year-old mechanic said a quick-fix injection worked briefly before leaving permanent damage, telling the outlet the experience left him feeling “broken.” A 40-year-old man developed nerve damage and tissue tears after opting for cheaper, unverified remedies over costly surgery. Another man suffered second-degree chemical burns after using an unregulated serum bought online, while a Port Harcourt trader was hospitalized after a traction device caused a prolonged, painful erection.

Medical experts quoted by Vanguard were direct in dismissing the products behind the trend. Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a UK-based consultant urologist, said most men seeking enlargement already fall within a normal size range, and that no pill, injection or herbal remedy has been scientifically proven to lengthen an adult penis. He described the craze as reflecting “long-standing insecurities amplified by social media.”

Dr. Gabriel Ogah, a consultant urologist and past president of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, told Vanguard that once a man is fully grown, enlargement is not achievable “not medically, not surgically, not with herbs,” describing cases of ruptured urethras, penile fractures and permanent erectile dysfunction among patients who attempted it.

Both experts called for stronger regulatory intervention, noting that Nigeria’s drug regulator, NAFDAC, is struggling to keep pace with sellers — some of whom, according to Vanguard, have used AI-generated deepfakes of real doctors to market fake products online.