The Federal Government (FG) has taken a major step to strengthen Nigeria’s cancer response with the launch of two key national policy documents and the expansion of free cancer screening services nationwide, as part of renewed efforts to reduce preventable cancer deaths.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing held to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day.
At the event, Salako officially unveiled the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan and the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030, describing them as vital instruments for transforming cancer prevention and care in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the NCCP 2026–2030 provides a comprehensive framework to guide federal and state governments, health institutions, development partners, and civil society organisations in strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care.
The minister stressed that prevention remains central to the government’s strategy, noting that over 40 per cent of global cancer deaths are linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, obesity, and air pollution.
“This reality underscores the need to prioritise cancer prevention, reduce exposure to risk factors, promote regular screening and integrate cancer-preventive vaccines into our national immunization program,” Salako said.
To commemorate World Cancer Day 2026, he announced that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), is sponsoring free cancer screening services across the country throughout February.
According to him, the initiative, which began at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, will be officially flagged off on 7 February at FMC Abeokuta, Ogun State, before extending to Abakaliki in the South-East and Jos in the North-Central zone. The program targets screening at least 1,000 Nigerians per region.
As part of efforts to boost early detection, Salako revealed that eight preventive oncology clinics are now fully operational in federal tertiary hospitals following the deployment of mammogram machines and other screening equipment by NICRAT.
These facilities are located at FMC 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.
The minister also disclosed that Nigeria is collaborating with Egypt and Kenya to establish the African Oncology Collaborative Network, aimed at strengthening oncology systems across Africa through shared expertise, policy coordination, and scalable innovations. He said the initiative is expected to be unveiled before the end of the third quarter of 2026.
Warning that cancer remains a growing public health threat, especially in low- and middle-income countries, Salako noted that global cancer cases are projected to exceed 30 million by 2050 despite advances in screening and treatment.
He commended the support of local and international partners, including the World Health Organisation, American Cancer Society, Mayo Clinic, Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, and Nigerian civil society organisations, for their contributions to Nigeria’s cancer response.
Salako urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free screening and preventive services, emphasising that early detection significantly improves survival outcomes.
“Prevention is not only better, but it is also cheaper and more sustainable,” he said, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing the cancer burden and improving the quality of life of Nigerians.
