The Federal Government has intensified its fight against cancer in Nigeria with the launch of a nationwide free cancer screening programme aimed at early detection and reducing cancer-related deaths.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, officially flagged off the initiative over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, describing cancer as one of the country’s most pressing public health challenges. Nigeria currently records the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in Africa, according to the Minister.
Dr. Salako revealed that cancer-related deaths in Nigeria now surpass fatalities from tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS combined, largely due to late diagnosis and delayed treatment. The free screening programme will target 6,000 Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones, focusing on breast, cervical, and prostate cancers—the three most common in the country. The exercise is scheduled to run throughout February.
Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, the Minister noted that breast cancer mortality in Nigeria exceeded the global average, cervical cancer remains largely preventable, and prostate cancer is the leading cancer among African men. Survival rates for childhood cancers also remain low in low- and middle-income countries.
The programme aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prevention-focused health strategy, emphasizing cost-effective approaches to controlling diseases. Dr. Salako added that the Ministry is tackling cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and environmental pollution, while vaccination campaigns-like the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B vaccines are ongoing to prevent cervical and liver cancers.
Dr. Salako disclosed that pilot preventive oncology clinics are already operational in six centres nationwide, and plans are underway to integrate basic cancer screening into primary healthcare facilities before May 2027. FMC Abeokuta will be supported by specialists from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to ensure effective screening and treatment.
The Minister also commended the Ogun State Government for providing an enabling environment for federal health institutions and urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free screenings and adopt healthier lifestyles.
