Insecurity deepens Nigeria’s cancer crisis, stakeholders warn

Nigeria’s growing cancer burden is being aggravated by conflict and insecurity, which are cutting off vulnerable populations from early diagnosis and sustained treatment, public health experts and critical stakeholders have warned

Speaking at a World Cancer Day symposium in Abuja on Tuesday organised by Project PINK BLUE, the Imo State First Lady and Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Chioma Uzodimma, said Nigeria records about 128,000 new cancer cases annually, but lamented that many patients are unable to access care due to violence, displacement and the collapse of health services in affected areas.

Uzodimma said the impact of cancer extends beyond patients to families and the wider health system, noting that breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Nigerian women, while prostate cancer is the most common among men. She added that a significant number of deaths could be prevented through early detection and uninterrupted treatment.

According to her, insecurity has emerged as a major obstacle to cancer care, with health facilities in conflict-prone areas forced to shut down and medical personnel fleeing due to attacks, kidnappings and killings.

She also pointed to prolonged disruptions, including sit-at-home orders in parts of the South East, which she said have delayed chemotherapy sessions, follow-up appointments and palliative care.

She said FLAC, established in 2015, has continued to address gaps across the cancer care continuum through advocacy, screening, patient support and policy engagement.

Since 2025, the coalition has expanded partnerships with governments, development partners and the private sector to strengthen prevention, research and treatment.

Uzodimma highlighted collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), the World Health Organisation and civil society groups, particularly in advancing cervical cancer elimination through HPV vaccination and screening in underserved communities.

However, she warned that conflict in the North East, North West and parts of the South East is undermining progress, leading to late-stage presentation and poorer outcomes.

She called for the deployment of mobile clinics, improved protection for health workers, secure supply routes for medical commodities and increased funding for the National Cancer Health Fund.

The Director-General of NICRAT, Usman Aliyu, identified weak coordination, limited decentralisation and funding gaps as major challenges facing cancer control efforts.

Aliyu said cancer services remain concentrated in major urban centres, leaving rural and conflict-affected populations without access to screening and early diagnosis.

Represented by the Director of Clinical Services, Musa Ali-Gombe, the DG noted that the establishment of NICRAT marked a shift, as Nigeria now has a dedicated agency and budget line for cancer control.

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He said NICRAT has strengthened cancer registries across the six geopolitical zones and produced a draft national cancer incidence report, providing a foundation for evidence-based planning.

On treatment access, he explained that the National Cancer Health Fund currently supports free care for breast, cervical and prostate cancers in selected centres, with plans to expand coverage as capacity improves.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also raised concerns that insecurity is worsening an already fragile cancer care system.

Delivering the keynote address, NMA President and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Azare, Prof. Bala Audu, said Nigeria faces a dual challenge of rising cancer cases and escalating insecurity.

Audu said health facilities in conflict zones are often destroyed or abandoned, while cancer prevention and screening are largely absent from humanitarian responses, especially in internally displaced persons’ camps.

He said Nigeria records about 137,000 new cancer cases yearly, with more than half of patients dying due to late presentation and limited access to care.

He warned that insecurity is accelerating the exit of health workers from unsafe postings, further weakening service delivery, and called for cancer care to be integrated into security and humanitarian response planning.

Former Abia North senator and sponsor of the NICRAT bill, Mao Ohuabunwa, described cancer as a national emergency requiring sustained political commitment and effective implementation of existing policies.

Earlier, Project PINK BLUE’s Senior Finance and Administration Officer Lead, Godwin Kagior, said the symposium was convened to move stakeholders beyond dialogue to concrete action.

Noting that cancer as both a health and social justice issue, particularly in settings affected by conflict, displacement and poverty, Kagior said Project PINK BLUE, established in 2014, has over the past decade focused on cancer awareness, advocacy, patient navigation, research, oncology training, psychological support and free screening.

He added that the annual World Cancer Day Symposium has become a key platform for engaging high-level stakeholders and shaping national conversations on cancer.

Participants at the symposium, including cancer survivors and advocates, called for stronger collaboration between government, security agencies, professional bodies and civil society to ensure cancer prevention, screening and treatment reach populations affected by conflict and displacement.