Health
Cancer: FG intensifies cancer fight, launches new policies, activates 8 oncology centres
The federal government is intensifying efforts in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment through new national policies, expanded vaccination, upgraded facilities, and free nationwide screening programmes, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, has said.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 World Cancer Day, Salako said the government has prioritised cancer prevention by integrating preventive vaccines into the national immunisation programme, expanding screening services, and addressing modifiable risk factors linked to cancer deaths.
He explained that the focus on prevention became necessary because more than 40 per cent of cancer deaths globally are linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, obesity, and air pollution.
“This means that nearly half of cancers could be prevented through public health interventions,” he said.
Salako disclosed that Nigeria has developed two major policy documents to strengthen cancer control nationwide: the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan, the first of its kind in the country, and the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030.
The NCCP will guide federal and state governments, development partners, and other stakeholders to improve cancer prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, research, survivorship, and end-of-life care.
The Minister said the plan prioritises vaccination, equitable access to screening, timely diagnosis and treatment, expansion of palliative care, use of technology, including precision oncology and artificial intelligence, workforce development, and sustainable financing.
“These documents will strengthen our relentless effort to provide clear policy pathways towards improving the quality of life of cancer patients, and increased investment in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research,” he said.
Salako noted that the policies align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Health Act, the WHO cancer strategies, and global initiatives on childhood and breast cancer.
Furthermore, he said Nigeria is also collaborating with Egypt and Kenya to establish the African Oncology Collaborative Network to strengthen oncology systems across the continent, which will be unveiled before the end of the third quarter of 2026.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Salako cited global data showing that about 20 million new cancer cases were recorded worldwide in 2025, with over 10 million deaths.
“Although age-adjusted cancer death rates have declined globally, it has been predicted that there may be more than 30 million new cancer diagnoses by 2050 due to a growing and ageing population,” he said, warning that low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria face disproportionately higher cancer burden and death rates.
The Minister said the government has expanded screening and treatment capacity through the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), including the provision of mammography machines and other equipment to Federal Medical Centres in Abuja and Ebute-Meta; University of Benin Teaching Hospital; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife.
“This means that Nigerians can now routinely undertake breast cancer screening services in these hospitals and not wait for ad hoc screening activities,” he said.
As part of World Cancer Day activities, Salako said the Ministry, in collaboration with NICRAT, is sponsoring free cancer screening services across the country throughout February.
The programme began at FMC Abuja and will be officially flagged off on February 7 at FMC Abeokuta, before moving to Abakaliki and Jos.
He said the target is to screen a minimum of 1,000 Nigerians per region, adding, “I want to encourage everyone to take advantage of the free screening services to promote cancer awareness and early detection for favourable treatment outcomes”.
He formally unveiled the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan and the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, and declared the eight preventive oncology clinics operational nationwide, “Prevention is not only better, but it is also cheaper,” he said.
The Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu, highlighted persistent gaps in prevention, early detection, treatment, and palliative care, noting uneven access to quality services.
“Too many Nigerians still face barriers to prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care,” he said, stressing that addressing these inequities is central to NICRAT’s mandate.
He said late presentation continues to undermine treatment outcomes, prompting the launch of the Renewed Hope National Initiative for Cancer Early Detection, Screening, and Coordinated Access to Networked Care, establishing National Cancer Screening Centres in eight facilities across the six geopolitical zones.
He said NICRAT is also reviving brachytherapy services nationwide and investing in workforce development through training and continuous professional development for specialists.
“While every cancer journey is deeply personal and unique, our response must be united across disciplines, institutions, sectors, and borders to ensure that no one is left behind,” Aliyu said.
He added that NICRAT’s Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Cancer Research (SINCAR) project is enhancing research capacity, while the expansion of the National Cancer Registry is improving data quality for informed policy.
“Every statistic represents a human life, every policy must centre on people,” he said, reaffirming NICRAT’s commitment to a comprehensive, equitable, and sustainable cancer control response in Nigeria.
On the activated National Cancer Screening Centres, the DG said, “The centres will provide screening for the most common cancers in Nigeria, including breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers. We have also incorporated skin cancer screening on a compassionate basis, particularly for persons living with albinism.
“We are working to integrate cancer screening into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients and make these services more accessible.
“The FMC Jabi centre, along with our other centres nationwide, is fully equipped and has already commenced screening services.
“We plan to operate daily on weekdays, with a team of medical personnel, including oncologists, surgeons, dermatologists, gynaecologists, and family medicine doctors drawn from participating federal health institutions to ensure comprehensive care.”
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