By Joyce Rémi-Babayeju
The Federal government has opened up eight operational Oncology Clinics for the strengthening of cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria in a renewed effort to curb the rising burden of cancer nationwide.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, officially unveiled these these clinics and policies on curbing cancer in the country on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing to commemorate the global 2026 World Cancer Day, with the theme ” United by Unique” .
Dr. Salako said the newly launched National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan—the first of its kind in Nigeria—and the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030 represent a major milestone in the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector.
” The Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has prioritized health sector and particularly cancer care by making huge investment within the short time in office than any other administration in this country”, the minister emphasized.
According to Dr. Salako,
cancer remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, with about 20 million new cases and over 10 million deaths recorded globally in 2025, and projections indicating that annual cases could exceed 30 million by 2050, particularly affecting low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria.”
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government is prioritizing cancer prevention, as more than 40 percent of cancer-related deaths globally are linked to modifiable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, unhealthy diets and air pollution.
“To address this, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is working with relevant agencies to reduce exposure to risk factors, expand screening services and integrate cancer-preventive vaccines into the national immunization programme,” he said.
Dr. Salako explained that the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030 provides a comprehensive framework for improving cancer risk assessment, prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and palliative care across the country, while also strengthening research, governance and sustainable financing.
He added that the plan promotes the use of precision oncology and artificial intelligence to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment planning, research and cancer surveillance, in line with global best practices.
Meanwhile, the minister announced that as part of efforts to expand access to early detection services, the eight preventive oncology clinics have become fully operational in federal tertiary health institutions across the country, enabling Nigerians to access routine cancer screening services.
The facilities are located at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja; FMC 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, Kano; and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife.
Dr. Salako also disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), will provide free cancer screening services nationwide throughout the month of February, with programmes planned across the six geopolitical zones to promote early detection and favourable treatment outcomes.
On her part, the Director of Hospital Services Department of the ministry, Dr. Abisola Adegoke ,represented by Dr. Okpikpi Director Teaching Hospital Services, stated that the commemoration gives an opportunity for oncology stakeholders across the globe to increase cancer awareness for early detection and prompt treatments.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NICRAT, Professor Usman Malami Aliyu, also said that the institute is strengthening Nigeria’s cancer response through expanded cancer research capacity, improved population-based cancer registries and the establishment of national cancer screening centres.
He stressed that early detection remains critical to improving cancer survival rates in Nigeria, adding that NICRAT is working to shift cancer care from late-stage intervention to prevention and timely diagnosis.
Furthermore, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to working with local and international partners, including the World Health Organization, African countries and global cancer institutions, to reduce cancer-related deaths and improve the quality of life of Nigerians living with cancer.
Daybreak reports that World Cancer Day is observed globally on February 4 of every year .
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