The Federal Government has unveiled two new national policy frameworks aimed at strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment amid growing concern over the rising burden of the disease in Nigeria.
The policies, the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan, and the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030 were presented on Wednesday in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day, observed globally on February 4.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the documents were designed to provide a coordinated national response to cancer care and position Nigeria to better address current and future challenges in oncology.
“The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has prioritised the health sector and particularly cancer care by making a huge investment within the short time in office than any other administration in this country,” Salako said.
He noted that cancer remains a major global public health challenge, with about 20 million new cases and more than 10 million deaths recorded worldwide in 2025, adding that projections suggest annual cases could exceed 30 million by 2050, with low- and middle-income countries expected to bear the greatest burden.
According to the minister, the Federal Government is placing greater emphasis on prevention, citing evidence that over 40 percent of cancer-related deaths globally are linked to modifiable risk factors such as 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 immunisation programme,” he said.
Salako explained that the NCCP 2026–2030 outlines a comprehensive framework covering cancer risk assessment, prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and palliative care, 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 and cancer surveillance.
As part of efforts to improve access to early detection, the minister announced that eight preventive oncology clinics are now fully operational in federal tertiary health institutions. 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.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), will offer free cancer screening services nationwide throughout February, with programmes planned across the six geopolitical zones.
The Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, said early detection remains critical to improving cancer survival rates in Nigeria, noting that the institute is working to strengthen cancer research, expand population-based cancer registries and establish national screening centres.
The government said it would continue to work with local and international partners, including the World Health Organization and global cancer institutions, to reduce cancer-related deaths and improve outcomes for Nigerians living with the disease.
