Akor Sylvester, Abuja
The federal government has said it is targeting a 30% reduction in the national cancer burden by 2030 through robust data management, early diagnosis tracking, and standardized treatment protocols.
The Minister of state for health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Cancer Week on the theme: “United Against Cancer: Building Resilient, Innovative and Equitable Systems Across the Cancer Care Continuum” in Abuja, said the goal was to ensure that no Nigerian should be denied lifesaving cancer care due to poverty, geography or social circumstance.
He said the roadmap was also clearly codified in the costed National Cancer Control Plan (2026–2030) along with the Nigeria Nuclear Medicine Strategic Plan.
In that regard, the minister informed that a Technical Working Group and a global advisory committee consisting of eminent cancer professionals across the world was inagurated to ensure that the plan is dilligently implemented.
The minister, while commending the Nigeria Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) for organising the event, and for their continued leadership in advancing cancer control in Nigeria, said cancer remains a major public health challenge, causing significant physical, emotional and financial burdens on individuals, families and health systems.
According to the minister, poor awareness, limited screening, gaps in diagnostic services resulting in late presentation, financial barriers, workforce shortages and inadequate treatment infrastructure have all combined together to further worsen the burden.
He insisted that cancer control must extend beyond treatment to prevention, screening, early detection, timely diagnosis and quality care, noting that it must also include rehabilitation, survivorship, palliative and end-of-life care.
Stating that: “This integrated approach defines the comprehensive cancer-control continuum”, the minister said, the theme of this year’s International Cancer Week “United Against Cancer: Building Resilient, Innovative and Equitable Systems Across the Cancer Care Continuum,” is both timely and strategic.
“The word “United” underscores that no single institution or sector can defeat cancer alone. Cancer control requires a coordinated whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach”, he said.
Salako stated that the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of health and social welfare, is committed to strengthening coordination, integration and shared accountability, noting that, NICRAT, established in 2017 and operational since 2023, is serving as a key national platform for coordinating cancer control efforts in Nigeria, aligned with the broader health-sector transformation agenda.
He said: “The first priority under this year’s theme is resilience—building cancer-care systems that can withstand shocks, adapt and sustain essential services. This requires investment in infrastructure, equipment, diagnostics, medicines, human resources and sustainable financing. Government is advancing this through the NSIA-Medserve Cancer Centres, the construction and commissioning of 3 cancer centers of excellence with another 3 ongoing, the recently approved procurement of 35 Linear Accelerators over the next 3 years and construction of NICRAT headquarters, the introduction of Immunohistochemistry services under the Nigeria Cancer Access Partnership Programme, supported by Roche and several such initiatives to ensure that cancer diagnosis does not automatically become a death sentence.
“The Technical Working Group on Cancer Patient Navigation is strengthening coordinated, patient-centred care, while the National Cancer Health Fund (NCHF) and Catastrophic Health Fund (NHIA) are supporting sustainable financing and improved access to treatment”, he said.
The minister further reiterated the federal government’s commitment to continue with such interventions to strengthen cancer services across primary, secondary and tertiary levels, with effective referral pathways and a skilled workforce to ensure accessible, continuous and quality care for all patients.
According to him, “Prevention and early detection are central to reducing the cancer burden. Nigeria is expanding access through eight NICRAT Preventive Oncology Clinics across the six geopolitical zones, alongside nationwide awareness initiatives, including the NICRAT–AACR Cancer Awareness Campaign, public education and HPV vaccination advocacy which has yielded over 18 million girls, 9 – 14 years vaccinated against future cervical cancer.
“The National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE) is also working and coordinating national efforts towards the WHO 2030 elimination. We will sustain these efforts to ensure equitable access to prevention, screening, early diagnosis and timely treatment for all.
“Innovation is essential to strengthening cancer control in Nigeria. In this wise, we will continue to harness digitalization, artificial intelligence, telemedicine, molecular diagnostics, precision medicine, cancer registries and data analytics to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
“These innovations intended to help overcome geographical barriers, expand access to specialist care, strengthen referrals, support clinical decision-making and improve cancer data management must be affordable, appropriate, scalable and sustainable. We must also strengthen locally relevant cancer research and ensure that evidence translates into effective policies, programmes and better patient outcomes, with institutions such as NICRAT playing a leading role in driving research and innovation.
“The third pillar of our theme is equity. Cancer care must be accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of income, location or social circumstance. We must address disparities in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, medicines, palliative care and survivorship, particularly for underserved and hard-to-reach populations.”
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