By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has called on African countries to unite to combat the growing cancer crisis in the region through intensified cross-border collaboration.
Dr. Salako made this at the Africa Oncology Collaboration and Innovation Forum held between December 5 and 8, 2025, at the Sonesta St. George Hotel in Luxor, Egypt.
To combat the prevalence of the cancer crisis in the region, he disclosed that Nigeria has made sweeping reforms, expanded cancer infrastructure, and ambitious prevention strategies under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He therefore said Africa must urgently unite to address what he described as a silent epidemic claiming more lives than war, AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined on the continent.
Quoting GLOBACAN 2022 data, the minister revealed that Africa recorded 1,185,216 new cancer cases and 763,843 related deaths, figures largely driven by lifestyle and environmental risk factors, aging populations, late detection, and weak treatment infrastructure.
He noted that Nigeria alone accounts for 10.5 percent of Africa’s cancer burden, ranking among the top three on the continent alongside Egypt and South Africa.
“These unacceptable figures demand that we bridge borders, share resources, and establish a coordinated, Pan-African response. This is the essence of healthcare Pan-Africanism,” Salako stated.
The minister announced how Nigeria has scaled up its national cancer control efforts, through the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment in 2017, adding that in the past 31 months under President Tinubu’s leadership, political will and budgetary allocations for oncology care have significantly increased.
He highlighted key interventions, which include the establishment of six new cancer centers of excellence across the country, procurement of specialized oncology equipment, expanded human capital development in cancer care, and enhanced cross-border collaborations.
He also revealed the development of two landmark national policy documents designed to transform Nigeria’s cancer response: the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan and the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030.
“The new Cancer Control Plan, scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2026, is aligned with global frameworks such as the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative, the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, and the Global Cancer Declaration by the Union for International Cancer Control.”
“ It outlines strategies for prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative care, survivorship, research, resource mobilization, and quality improvement.”
According to Dr. Salako, through its National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination, Nigeria is aiming to screen at least 50 percent of eligible women by 2027 and treat 100 percent of detected precancerous lesions.
He further highlighted the success of the HPV vaccination programme, introduced in October 2023, which has already immunized nearly 15 million Nigerian girls aged 9 to 14, positioning Nigeria as one of Africa’s most aggressive nations in cervical cancer prevention.
To reduce out-of-pocket payment for cancer treatment, he announced the inclusion of cancer coverage under Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Programme.
In addition, the government is implementing a National Cancer Health Fund and supporting the Nigeria Cancer Society’s private-sector-led Cancer Intervention Fund to ease the financial burden on patients and families.
Dr. Salako formally declared Nigeria’s support for the proposed African Oncology Network, describing it as a crucial platform to consolidate expertise, mobilize investments, and promote equitable access to quality cancer care across the continent.
” Nigeria is ready to contribute to entrenching this spirit of Africa oncology collaboration and Cancer Care Pan-Africanism that bridge borders, shares resources and information”, he added.
The forum brought together leading oncology experts, policymakers, development partners, and civil society organizations from across Africa with the theme, “Bridging borders for a stronger oncology care future in Africa.
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