Nigeria is intensifying its fight against cancer through a coordinated national strategy that expands access to treatment, strengthens health insurance coverage, and promotes early detection.
These efforts form key pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for transforming the nation’s healthcare system and improving the well-being of citizens.
The renewed focus comes as the October Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month winds down, reinforcing the government’s commitment to tackling cancer and other non-communicable diseases across the country.
However, cancer remains a major public health burden in Nigeria, with high treatment costs pushing families into financial distress, a reality that hits close to home for many citizens. For Adewale Osinubi, a civil servant in Lagos, the experience is deeply personal.
He said; “After my wife’s diagnosis, one round of chemotherapy cost over two million naira. We had to sell our car and rely on donations. Financial pain is a disease all on its own.”
According to Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, Nigeria records about 127,000 cancer cases annually, with an estimated 80,000 deaths.
Pate said; “That is the burden. By the fourth quarter of 2025, we will break ground on new specialist cancer centers in the Northwest and Southeast. This is part of our drive to ensure every Nigerian has access to quality, affordable, and equitable cancer care.”
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is complementing these efforts by expanding financial protection for cancer patients.
“Our goal is not about how big the hospitals are or how much we spend; it is about how citizens are treated and the quality of care they receive,” the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri said.
“No Nigerian should suffer financial hardship because of medical expenses,” Dr Ohiri said.
He noted that ongoing insurance reforms have expanded coverage significantly.
“We have moved from below 12 million enrollees to over 21 million, surpassing the presidential target for 2025,” he added.
The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) is also advancing research-driven solutions.
“To develop treatments truly effective for Nigerians, we must expand our representation in the global genome bank,..Only then can therapies reflect our genetic realities and environmental factors,” the Director General of National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr. Usman Aliyu said.
He emphasised the importance of robust data systems saying; “One of the greatest gaps remains cancer data. Without reliable information, we cannot allocate resources effectively or design preventive interventions.”
According to him, NICRAT is expanding cancer registries and surveillance systems nationwide.
At the community level, advocacy networks are driving awareness and support. The First Lady of Imo State and Chairperson, First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Chioma Uzodinma, lauded Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her unprecedented support.
“In the history of Nigeria, we’ve never had a First Lady who supports cancer care to the tune of one billion naira,” she said.
Also the Founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu called for homegrown awareness strategies.
She said; “Cancer is not just a medical issue, it’s a social one. Myths and low awareness are killing people. We need traditional rulers, religious leaders, and sports figures to drive education.”
Civil society voices echoed the need for stronger funding.
“Budgetary allocation toward cancer treatment is what we are pushing for,” the Country Director, Girl Effect, Boladale Akin-Kolapo said.
Similarly, Dr. Amina Dorayi, Africa Regional Director of Pathfinder International, said; “Cancer must remain at the top of the national agenda because it is preventable if detected early.”
Stakeholders agree that sustained advocacy, improved data, and increased genomic representation will help tailor treatments to Nigerian realities ensuring that the fight against cancer becomes a collective national mission.