By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
In a groundbreaking event, the Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the first cancer treatment initiative that promises to change the narrative of cancer care in the country and continent.
The programme, known as the Innovative Cancer Medicine (ICM) Demonstration Project, was officially flagged off on Tuesday at the National Hospital, Abuja, marking the first advanced cancer immunotherapy treatment to be administered within a structured feasibility study in sub-Saharan Africa.
The launch also saw the enrollment of the first 30 Nigerian patients in the programme.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Roche, and other advocacy and research partners.
The study has already enrolled its first Nigerian patient, a milestone, officials described as a signal of hope for cancer patients in Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the initiative as a historic moment in the nation’s health sector, noting that cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria, with colorectal cancer now ranking as the second most common among men and the fourth overall.
Dr. Salako said that despite the rising numbers of cases, thousands of cancer patients are denied lifesaving treatment due to late diagnosis and unaffordable therapy.
“The statistics are sobering, but they also fuel our resolve under the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revolutionize cancer prevention, control, and overall management in Nigeria”; he further asserted.
The minister said the new initiative, supported by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reflects the government’s commitment to improving access to advanced healthcare through strategic partnerships and strengthened health systems.
He explained that the initiative would ensure that innovative cancer treatment is no longer beyond the reach of Nigerians.
“Today’s milestone, the enrollment of the first Nigerian patient, symbolizes hope. I hope that patients in low- and middle-income countries will no longer have to wait decades to access the same lifesaving innovations available in wealthier nations.”
This collaboration reflects global solidarity and Nigeria’s determination to transform its cancer care agenda,” he affirmed.
He emphasized that the federal government is already investing heavily in oncology infrastructure, citing the establishment of six regional cancer treatment centres, three of which have been completed.
He added that the 2025 budget contains the highest-ever allocation to cancer care in Nigeria’s history.
Furthermore, he appealed to regulatory agencies to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder medical innovation, urging them to be firm but faster in decision-making to save time and lives.
The minister appreciated the partners and said,” “I commend our partners, CHAI, PICI, BMS, and Roche, for demonstrating faith in Nigeria’s institutions and for sharing a vision that innovation must be inclusive.”
Providing an overview of the project, Principal Investigator of the Innovative Cancer Medicine ICM study, Professor Bello Abubakar of the National Hospital Abuja, described the initiative as the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. He said the study would provide free immunotherapy treatment using Nivolumab, a globally approved cancer drug that harnesses the body’s immune system to fight and potentially cure cancer.
Professor Abubakar revealed that the full cost of the study is estimated at over seven billion naira, fully sponsored by international pharmaceutical and development partners. He explained that each dose of the drug costs about ₦9.5 million per treatment cycle, a cost far beyond the reach of average Nigerians, but would now be fully covered for patients recruited into the programme.
He clarified that the study was not a clinical trial, but rather a feasibility and demonstration study to show that Nigeria has the infrastructure and expertise to safely administer immunotherapy.
“This is a proud moment for Nigeria. For the first time in Africa, we are administering advanced immunotherapy medicine to patients locally.”
” This drug has been used globally and approved for use, so we are not testing its efficacy but demonstrating that we can deliver it safely here in our environment.”
Everything from diagnostics to follow-up care is free of charge for all 30 patients who will be enrolled within 18 months,” he said.
He added that patients would be recruited from across the country as long as they are diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer and can receive treatment at the National Hospital Abuja. Screening, testing, and biopsy analysis to determine eligibility will also be covered by the programme.
Also speaking at the event, Country Director of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Dr. Funke Fasawe, said the initiative was the result of extensive collaboration involving Nigerian health authorities, global cancer experts, pharmaceutical companies, and researchers.
She explained that the study was designed to demonstrate not only medical feasibility but also the operational capacity of Nigeria’s health system to deliver complex cancer treatment.
According to her, the success of the study would pave the way for cost negotiations with drug manufacturers to make immunotherapy more affordable and accessible to lower-income patients in Africa.
She described cancer as a global challenge that requires partnerships, not isolated efforts, emphasizing that no single institution or country can tackle cancer alone.
“We negotiated with partners like the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Roche to make this treatment available in Nigeria. We want to show the world that with the right partnerships, African patients do not have to be left behind,” she said.
She stressed that treatment under the study includes not only the drugs but also patient monitoring, laboratory investigations, transport assistance, and supportive therapies.
In his remarks, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Society for Translational Oncology, Dr. Martin J. Murphy, described the launch as historic, saying it represents “the dawn of a new era in African medicine.” He commended Nigeria for demonstrating leadership on the continent by embracing science-driven healthcare innovation.
“What is happening here today in Abuja has never been done before in Africa. The most advanced form of cancer treatment, using drugs that activate a patient’s immune system to destroy tumors, is being delivered in a hospital on African soil. This places Nigeria on the global oncology map,” he said.
He praised Professor Bello’s team and the National Hospital Abuja for their commitment, saying their work meets international standards and will inspire similar projects across Africa.
