Researchers detect toxic heavy metals in water samples amid kidney disease crisis in Yobe
Preliminary findings from a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) study in Yobe State have revealed the presence of hazardous heavy metals in water sources used by residents of Gashua town.
The lead researcher and Director of the Biomedical Research and Training Centre (BioRTC), Yobe State University, Damaturu, Prof. Mahmoud Maina, disclosed this on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to NAN, communities such as Gashua, Jakusko and other settlements along the Yobe River have for decades suffered a high burden of renal failure, resulting in significant mortality and morbidity.
Prof. Maina, who also serves as Adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni on Science, Research and Innovation, said laboratory analysis of water samples detected heavy metals including cadmium, lead and arsenic—substances known to trigger kidney disease and other serious health conditions.
“These metals should not be present in the environment under normal circumstances. Their presence can lead not only to kidney disease, but also to illnesses such as cancer and dementia,” he said.
The neuroscientist noted that the study also identified diabetes and hypertension as major contributors to CKD in the area, adding that fishermen appeared to be more affected than other occupational groups.
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He explained that the research, sponsored by the Yobe State Government, involved collaboration with a 50-member team of scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ghana and other countries. The team collected more than 3,000 human and environmental samples, including blood, urine, food items, farm soil, and water from rivers and boreholes.
The multidisciplinary team comprised nephrologists, geologists, chemists, physicians, geneticists and environmental scientists. Prof. Maina said a more comprehensive report on the findings would be released in January 2026.
On a separate dementia research initiative recently launched by BioRTC in Damaturu, Maina said data including lifestyle information, blood samples and skin biopsies were collected from 1,200 high-risk individuals for genetic and biomarker analysis.
He explained that dementia, though often associated with aging, is not a normal part of the aging process. Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) technology, he said researchers could study brain-related diseases without the need for brain tissue donations.
“With a small tissue or blood sample, we can generate stem cells and convert them into brain cells that mirror the biology of the donor. This allows us to study disease risks and test treatments without invasive procedures,” he said.
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Maina described iPSCs as a critical technology for future drug development for dementia and related conditions, noting that recent studies predict dementia cases in Africa could rise by 300 percent over the next 25 years.
“The global financial burden of dementia exceeds three trillion dollars, and its impact on Africa could be even more devastating than in the West,” he said, describing the condition as one of the most debilitating diseases.
He praised the Yobe State Government for supporting BioRTC through funding, overseas training for staff and the construction of a permanent office complex scheduled for inauguration in January.
Founded in 2021, BioRTC has trained over 1,000 scientists in research and innovation, Maina said. He added that through international partnerships, the centre had attracted research funding and equipment worth about ₦6 billion, including advanced laser confocal microscopes.
The director identified corruption, poor funding and lack of equipment as major challenges facing research in Nigeria and Africa, and urged governments and philanthropists to invest more in science and innovation.
“Supporting research and promoting talented scientists will help solve societal problems, increase the impact of science and position Nigeria among global knowledge powerhouses,” he said.
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