Nigeria Calls for Pan-African Cancer Alliance To Combat Cancer Crises
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has called for intensified cross-border collaboration to combat Africa’s growing cancer crises, revealing sweeping reforms, expanded cancer infrastructure and ambitious prevention strategies under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking at the Africa Oncology Collaboration and Innovation Forum held between December 5 and 8, 2025, at the Sonesta St. George Hotel in Luxor, Egypt; Dr. Salako 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, ageing populations, late detection and weak treatment infrastructure.
He noted that Nigeria alone accounts for 10.5 per cent 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 that Nigeria has significantly scaled up its national cancer control efforts, citing the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment in 2017 as the foundation of recent progress. He said that in the last 31 months under President Tinubu’s leadership, political will and budgetary allocations for oncology care have increased markedly.
Key interventions include the establishment of six new cancer centres of excellence across the country, procurement of specialised 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 mobilisation and quality improvement.
In a major public health milestone, Dr. Salako disclosed that Nigeria, through its National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination, is aiming to screen at least 50 per cent of eligible women by 2027 and treat 100 per cent of detected precancerous lesions.
He further highlighted the success of the HPV vaccination programme, introduced in October 2023, which has already immunised 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 the catastrophic cost of cancer treatment, Dr. Salako announced that Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Programme is finalising plans to introduce a catastrophic health insurance scheme that includes cancer care coverage. 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 officially declared Nigeria’s support for the proposed African Oncology Network, describing it as a crucial platform to consolidate expertise, mobilise investments and promote equitable access to quality cancer care across the continent.
” Nigeria is ready to contribute to entrench this spirit of Africa oncology collaboration and Cancer Care Pan-Africanism that bridge borders, shares resources and information…”
During a guided tour of Shefa Alorman Hospital, the Minister commended the facility as a phenomenal African achievement driven by vision, commitment and professional dedication.
He concluded by calling for a shift in continental priorities, saying Africa must move healthcare, especially cancer care, to the centre of its integration agenda in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. He stressed that beyond politics, security and trade, the continent must now embrace healthcare Pan-Africanism as a collective response to shared health challenges.
The forum brought together leading oncology experts, policymakers, development partners and civil society organisations from across Africa and beyond, under the theme, “Bridging borders for a stronger oncology care future in Africa.”
Welcome Address by Cross River Journalists Forum Chairman ,Francisca Ogar on the 2025 CROSSJOF Day Dec 2 2025
It is an honor to welcome you all to this very significant event.A day journalists from Cross River State have set aside to come together to ruminate on the progress and future of the state.
By virtue of our profession, we often find ourselves in rooms where these discussions are held either for the good of the entire nation or different clusters of people.
Today is different because dropping all other affiliations, we identify as Cross Riverians only, concerned about how we can contribute more to the growth and development of our state by placing the right conversations on the front burner.
Issues ranging from the quality of education as seen in the quality of graduates churned out, the high cost of living vis a vis the high level of unemployment, drug abuse, insecurity and gender based violence are all issues of concern to us and we desire to be part of the solution of these problems by setting the agenda through effective reportage of activities in the state as well as holding our leaders accountable to the people, referencing their mandate and promises during campaign.
It is worrisome that during our score card project which saw us going round our elected leaders asking questions only Senator Jarigbe Agom and Hon. Peter Akpanke were confident to open their doors to the team and advance us information on their constituency projects. This underscores the wide spread discontent among our people back home in some constituencies
Crossjof restates it’s commitment to keep speaking the truth to power..we appreciate the Prince Bob. Otu led administration for the positive news we hear in the area of internal revenue Generation. We commend the commissioner of information and the SA Media Abuja for always keeping us abreast with the policies and programs in the state.
As we confer a well deserved award of Excellence today on Senator Jarigbe for delivering the dividends of democracy to his constituents and staying in touch with the people to the extent th6haa earned him a reputation as the people’s Senator, we call on our Legislators and all who hold public office in trust for the people of Cross River State to intensify efforts to foster economic growth in the state as this will effectively enhance security and minimize vices especially among the Youth.
We present to you today our magazine The Panorama, both online and offline which will serve as our tool for awareness creation especially with 2027 in sight.
We thank you for coming and look forward to a fruitful engagement.
