Nigeria Government Moves to Curb Rising Cancer Burden, Unveils Nationwide Free Screening Programme
The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to address the growing cancer burden in Nigeria with the launch of a nationwide free cancer screening programme aimed at early detection and reduction of cancer-related deaths.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, officially flagged off the programme during weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State; describing cancer as a major public health challenge in the country. He noted that Nigeria currently bears the highest cancer burden in Africa in terms of incidence and mortality.
According to the Honourable Minister, cancer-related deaths in Nigeria now exceed fatalities from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined, a situation he attributed largely to late diagnosis and delayed commencement of treatment.
Dr. Salako explained that the free screening exercise will cover 6,000 asymptomatic Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones and will focus on breast, cervical and prostate cancers, the three most common cancers in the country. The screenings are expected to run throughout the month of February.
He said breast cancer has a global mortality rate of about 28 percent, with Nigeria recording figures far above the global average, while cervical cancer—responsible for about 21 percent of cancer deaths globally and locally—remains largely preventable and curable. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Africa, while survival rates for childhood cancers remain significantly lower in low- and middle-income countries.
Speaking further, he noted that the initiative aligns with the prevention-focused strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which prioritises cost-effective approaches to controlling diseases of public health importance. Adding: ” the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is addressing cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and environmental pollution”.
Dr. Salako disclosed that by late 2025, nearly 15 million girls aged nine to 14 years had received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationwide to protect against future cervical cancer cases, alongside continued hepatitis B vaccination to prevent liver cancer.
He further revealed that the Ministry is working towards establishing a national cancer screening programme, with pilot preventive oncology clinics already operational in six centres across the country. Plans are also underway to integrate basic cancer screening services into primary healthcare centres before the end of President Tinubu’s first term in May 2027.
Assuring participants of quality service delivery, the Honourable Minister said FMC Abeokuta would be supported by specialists from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to ensure effective screening and treatment.
Dr. Salako commended the Ogun State Government for providing an enabling environment for federal health institutions and praised the management of FMC Abeokuta for its leadership and commitment to healthcare delivery. He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free screening exercise and adopt healthier lifestyles, stressing that early detection remains critical to reducing cancer-related deaths nationwide.
