In some roads in Lagos, people are confronted with bold adverts painted on road demarcations such as: “Longer. Stronger. Permanent.” These messages, impossible to miss, have become a familiar part of the daily commute, highlighting a growing obsession among Nigerian men with the size of the male sexual organ.

Across Nigeria, the craze for penis enlargement has gone beyond whispered conversations. What was once discussed in secrecy now flashes on billboards, in WhatsApp broadcasts, on roadside markings, social media, and even TikTok videos, pills, injections and herbal mixtures promise confidence, sexual prowess, and respect. In most cases the messages of “Penis enlargement”are written boldly on walls and road dividers accompanied with phone numbers.

However, investigations revealed that this growing obsession masks a far more disturbing development: a surge in unregulated products and procedures that are leaving many Nigerian men with severe medical complications. Investigations also showed that more Nigerian men are being misled by these unverified claims.

Hospitals report an increase in men with complications arising from attempts at penis enlargement.

Many of these men arrive late to hospitals, ashamed and in pain, after injuries sustained from injections, pills or mechanical devices.

Desire for bigger penis almost cost me my life —Tunde

For Tunde Onoja, a 30-year-old mechanic, the pressure to have a bigger penis was relentless. “When you see these adverts every day, after a while it feels like everyone else is upgrading except you. You feel forced to join. I cannot say I have a small penis but I wanted something bigger, coupled with the fact that my fiancée often complained about the size of my penis,” he said. Influenced by a friend and convinced by testimonials on a WhatsApp post, Tunde tried several concoctions and injections.

“The turning point came after a quick-fix injection recommended by a friend. It worked for a short time. Then nothing worked again. The loss wasn’t just physical. I stopped seeing my partner. I felt broken. For many Nigerian men, solutions feel urgent. But sadly, by the time complications started, it was almost too late. Even hospitals couldn’t fully undo the damage,” he lamented.

I was ashamed of my small penis — Celestine

Another victim is Mr Celestine Obike. At 40, he had long believed he would never father a child because of his micro penis. “I became timid around girls and kept my virginity. It wasn’t that I was not interested in sex, but I was afraid of the reaction I might get as a result of my small penis,” he explained. While driving along Gbagada expressway, he noticed a handwritten advert promising penis enlargement. At first he was skeptical but later saw similar posts on Facebook. Considering surgery, which he was told cost between $5,000 and $6,000 for length, or $2,500–$3,000 for glans enlargement, he ultimately opted for cheaper, unverified remedies.

“In June 2024, I started having pains. I was rushed to a private hospital and later referred to a general hospital for a urologist consultation. Medical investigations revealed nerve damage and tears caused by the remedies I used. I am alive today because I reached the hospital in time,” he said.

I never had serious relationships due to my small penis —Samuel

35-year-old Samuel Adebayo, a graduate of Business Administration is another victim of online advertisements. Born with a small penis, he had never had serious relationships. When he saw a Facebook advertisement promising guaranteed enlargement with “before and after” photos, he purchased the serum. “Within days, I developed severe burns and rashes. The booster capsule contained unregulated stimulants. I ignored early warning signs because of shame. By the time I sought medical help, I had second-degree chemical burns and required two weeks of treatment. Men suffer in silence because issues of sexual organs are considered forbidden. It takes a toll on relationships, self-worth and mental health.” he said.

I almost died after taking pills for penis enlargement — Ibrahim

Similarly, another victim, Ibrahim received a Yahoo spam email claiming to offer clinically proven enlargement pills. After taking the pills, he experienced heart palpitations, dizziness, and high blood pressure. “I almost died. It took weeks of medication and monitoring to stabilise my condition,” he recalled.

I was hospitalised after having a prolonged erection — Emeka

Emeka Anyanwu, a Port Harcourt trader, almost lost his life. He bought a traction device promoted by a TikTok influencer. Ignorant of the fact that improper use could cause bruising, numbness and restricted blood flow, leading to erectile dysfunction, he went ahead and used it. His whole world came crashing down. “I developed bruises all over my penis and I had an erection that refused to go down. I had some concoctions, so I called my friends. We poured a lot of water on it. When it did not go down after two hours, my friends advised me to go to the hospital and see a doctor.

“Because of shame I could not tell members of my family. When I could no longer endure the pain, I told my younger sister and I was then taken to the hospital. I was there for three days.” Despite all the efforts, Emeka’s recovery was not easy. “Recovery was slow, and complete reversal wasn’t assured. I lost my self-confidence,” he said.

The stories of Tunde, Samuel and Emeka represent just a tip of the iceberg as urologists in Nigeria have confirmed that the number of men who fall victims of complications of penis elongation is growing faster now than 10 years ago. Medical experts warn that the craze is a growing public health threat. They explained that most pills, lotions, and devices marketed to increase penis size lack scientific evidence. The urologists even warned that some can permanently damage tissue and weaken future erections. Studies have also shown that micro penis, a condition affecting less than one percent of men worldwide, is rare.

Scientific reality

Studies, including those from Mayo Clinic, confirmed that most advertised penis-enlargement methods do not work and can cause permanent damage. Vacuum pumps, for example, may temporarily enlarge the penis but overuse damages elastic tissue. Pills, injections, and devices often contain untested chemicals, unregulated stimulants, or mechanical hazards.

The studies also proved that normal penis size varies, stating that non-erect length does not predict erect length accurately. “A penis is typically five inches (13 cm) or longer when erect, while less than three inches is considered micropenis. Despite myths, most men who pursue enlargement already have average size,” Mayo Clinic report showed.

Beyond physical harm, the psychological effects are significant. Anxiety, depression, shame and social withdrawal are common. Tunde, Samuel, and Emeka all reported long-term struggles with self-esteem and sexual confidence.

Experts react

However, amid the growing social media obsession with male organ enlargement or elongation,UK-based Nigerian consultant urologist and founder of the Prostate Clinic in Lagos, Prof Kingsley Ekwueme said: “Most men seeking enlargement already fall within the normal size range. Most claims around penis elongation are medically false, dangerous and driven by anxiety rather than science. The current craze reflects long-standing insecurities amplified by social media.

“Anxiety about penis size has always existed. What social media has done is to magnify it, making men believe there is a widespread problem when, medically, there often isn’t.” According to him, a genuinely small penis — known medically as a micropenis — is rare, affecting less than one per cent of men worldwide. “Most Nigerian men complaining today actually have normal-sized penises. What they are experiencing is psychological.”

Ekwueme explained that penis size should not be judged by appearance alone. “The most reliable measurement is the stretched penile length. When measured correctly, a normal stretched length is between five and six inches. Any penis that is three inches in length or less is considered a micropenis.”

He stressed that many men mistakenly assess themselves by looking down, which can distort perception. “Stand naked in front of a mirror. That gives a more realistic view,” he advised.

On medical treatments, Ekwueme explained: “There is no pill, supplement, injection or herbal concoction that has been scientifically proven to increase penile length in adults. Testosterone only helps if a deficiency is identified in infancy or childhood. In adulthood, it will not lengthen the penis.”

Surgical options, he warned, are equally misunderstood. “Some procedures can increase girth, not length,” he explained. “And they carry serious risks, like nerve damage, loss of sensation or permanent erectile dysfunction. You may never regain natural erections.”

He also raised alarm over unregulated herbal remedies. “Many of these concoctions are toxic to the liver and kidneys. I have seen men end up with kidney failure from drugs that don’t even work.”

Despite widespread online advertising, Ekwueme said few men seek proper medical advice. “Shame pushes them towards self-medication and quackery,” he noted.

He called on regulators to act decisively. “My face and voice have been cloned using AI to sell fake drugs online,” he revealed. “Government agencies must force social media platforms to take these adverts down, as is done in the UK and US.”

He said: “Most men with so-called small penises are fertile and already have children. Penis size does not determine masculinity, sexual performance or fertility. Fighting misinformation is everyone’s responsibility.”

Corroborating his views in a chat with Vanguard, a Consultant Neurologist and Vice-President of the Nigeria Association of Private Medical Practitioners, Dr. Gabriel Ogah, said they are reporting a sharp increase in severe complications over the past five years.

“Many herbal mixtures and drugs cause prolonged abnormal erections, stretching penile tissue beyond its elastic limit. Like rubber stretched too far, it will never return to normal. Some men become impotent for life,” he said.

He described cases of ruptured urethras, penile fractures, permanent erectile dysfunction, and severe psychological trauma. Fertility, he clarified, is not determined by penis size noting that sperm production occurs in the testicles, independent of length.

Ogah warned men to completely disregard the growing number of advertisements promoting penis enlargement pills, creams, injections and herbal mixtures, describing them as fraudulent and dangerous.

“People should discard those advertisements because they don’t genuinely work. You cannot increase the size of an adult man’s penis — not medically, not surgically, not with herbs. Once a man is fully grown, that chapter is closed.”

Speaking on what constitutes normal size, Ogah explained that medicine works with ranges. “Anything from about nine centimetres and above is considered normal,” he said. “That does not mean someone with seven or eight centimetres cannot function. Abnormality only exists when the organ cannot perform its basic role.”

Stressing that fertility is rarely affected by penis size, he said: “You don’t need a big penis to impregnate a woman. All that is required is for semen to be deposited in the vagina. Even what people call ‘small’ can achieve that.”

Ogah warned that attempts to enlarge the penis in adulthood often end in disaster. “I have treated many young men whose penis stayed abnormally erect for too long after using drugs or herbs. Some became impotent for life.”

He likened the damage to overstretching rubber. “Once you stretch beyond the elastic limit, it never returns to normal,” he said. “That’s exactly what happens to the penis.”

According to him, cases of penile fracture, urethral rupture and permanent impotence linked to drug abuse have surged in the last five years. “Some men cannot urinate, cannot have sex and lose their marriages. The dangers are far worse than any imagined benefit. Resist it.”

Unregulated markets

Unregulated markets, online adverts, social media, and AI-generated endorsements have fuelled the craze. Vendors hawk in markets, and testimonials circulate unchecked on WhatsApp and Facebook. Some online adverts even use AI-generated images and voices of doctors to sell fake products.

Despite NAFDAC’s efforts, regulation struggles to keep pace with the ingenuity of sellers. Products sold online or informally often lack approval and claim miraculous results without evidence.

Experts stressed that open discussion, sexual education, and awareness campaigns are crucial, adding that social stigma, shame, and secrecy continue to drive men toward risky solutions. (Saturday Vanguard)