The Federal government has launched a nationwide free cancer screening programme as part of renewed efforts to reduce cancer-related deaths through early detection and prompt treatment across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, flagged off the programme at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, saying the initiative targets the leading causes of cancer mortality in the country, particularly breast, cervical and prostate cancers.
Salako said the programme, being implemented across the six geopolitical zones in commemoration of World Cancer Day, was designed to create awareness, promote early diagnosis and ensure timely treatment, noting that cancer remains one of the most pressing public health challenges facing Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria bears the highest cancer burden in Africa in terms of incidence and mortality, with deaths exceeding those from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined.
He attributed the high death rate largely to late presentation and delayed commencement of treatment, stressing that prevention remains the most cost-effective strategy for controlling cancers.
The minister identified breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer and childhood cancers as the major contributors to cancer deaths in the country, lamenting that cervical cancer, though largely preventable and curable, continues to claim the lives of many young women.
Explaining the scope of the initiative, Salako said the current phase of the programme would provide free screening and treatment services for about 6,000 asymptomatic Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones throughout the month of February.
He added that participants in Abeokuta would benefit from the expertise of specialists at FMC Abeokuta, supported by experts from the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
The minister said the screening exercise reflects the preventive focus of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which prioritises disease prevention at all levels.
He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is working with relevant agencies to address cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and environmental pollution, while deploying vaccines as primary prevention tools.
Salako disclosed that as of late 2025, nearly 15 million girls aged between nine and 14 years had received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationwide to protect them against future cases of cervical cancer, while hepatitis B vaccination is being used to curb liver cancer.
He also revealed plans to institutionalise a national cancer screening programme that would make routine screening services available to Nigerians.
According to him, a pilot scheme of preventive oncology clinics has commenced in six centres, with a vision to integrate basic cancer screening into primary healthcare centres before the end of President Tinubu’s first term in May 2027.
Salako urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free screening and adopt healthier lifestyles, warning against tobacco and alcohol use, sedentary habits, unsafe sexual practices and unhealthy diets that increase cancer risks.
He commended the management of FMC Abeokuta, led by the Chairman of the Governing Board, Dr. Dayo Israel, and the Medical Director, Dr. Sarah Titilola Ibiyemi, for what he described as exemplary leadership, while challenging the institution to become a national and global reference point.
The minister also reaffirmed his commitment to attracting more health sector investments to Ogun State, expressing optimism that an ultra-modern cancer centre would be established at FMC Abeokuta before the end of the current administration.
Declaring the programme open, Salako called on Nigerians across the country to participate actively in the screening exercise, stressing that early detection remains key to reducing cancer deaths nationwide.
Stakeholders push for funding, early detection to cut Nigeria’s cancer deaths
Meanwhile, stakeholders at a World Cancer Day event in Abuja on Saturday called for increased funding, early detection and coordinated support systems to reduce Nigeria’s high cancer mortality rate, warning that many patients are dying not because treatment is unavailable, but because it is unaffordable or accessed too late.
The call was made at an awareness programme organised by Project Pink Blue in partnership with Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where health advocates, survivors and private sector leaders highlighted the human and economic cost of cancer care in the country.
General Manager of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Martin Zarybnicky, said the hospitality group was supporting the initiative as part of a global commitment to community health and awareness. “At Hilton, brand standards require us to support charity events like this, and today we are celebrating 10 years with Project Pink Blue,” he said. “This is not just about Nigeria; it is worldwide awareness for cancer, and the media presence here helps people understand that cancer exists and that we are working daily to beat it.”
Zarybnicky stressed the importance of stronger corporate support for cancer care, particularly for young people. “Awareness in Nigeria is critical, and companies need to step up to sponsor and support patients, especially the youngsters, who are battling diseases like cancer,” he said.
A Programme Associate at Project Pink Blue, Faridah Banwo, said the event was part of activities to mark World Cancer Day and amplify this year’s global theme, United by Unique. According to her, the theme reflects the reality that while every cancer journey is different, the challenges facing patients in Nigeria are largely the same.
“In Nigeria, it is very difficult to battle cancer to the core because treatment is expensive,” she said. “Patients are forced to choose between buying food and buying medication. A mother treating breast cancer has to think about her children at home while deciding whether she can afford her drugs.”
She said Project Pink Blue was using advocacy to push for better public financing of cancer care. “We are calling on the government to increase the allocation to the Cancer Health Fund so patients can complete their treatment and not stop halfway due to lack of funds,” she said, adding that state and local governments should establish their own cancer health funds to reach more people at the grassroots.
Beyond funding, she explained that the organisation supports patients psychologically and helps them navigate the health system. “Cancer is not a journey a patient goes through alone. Even if you have the money, you still need to be in the right frame of mind to take treatment,” she said.
She also highlighted the Pink Blue mobile application, designed to guide patients to appropriate facilities and provide real-time information on available services. “Late detection and misdiagnosis contribute significantly to cancer deaths in Nigeria. The app helps patients know the right hospitals to go to and even which radiotherapy machines are functioning, so people don’t travel long distances only to discover services are unavailable,” she said.
Citing national data, she noted that Nigeria records about 127,000 new cancer cases annually, with roughly 79,000 deaths. “That means more than half of those diagnosed die, which is unacceptable when you compare us with other countries that have higher diagnosis rates but lower mortality,” she said.
Also speaking, Fortune Osilem, a colon cancer survivor of five years and an ambassador for Project Pink Blue, urged Nigerians to embrace early testing and stop stigmatising cancer patients. “I am here to create awareness because I am a survivor. I have been through the treatment and I know what it takes. Mine was detected early enough, and that made all the difference.”
Osilem warned that stigma worsens the burden of the disease. “Cancer does not announce that it is coming to your household. It can happen to anybody. If you cannot help, at least don’t stigmatise. Words of encouragement can go a long way.”
He encouraged regular medical check-ups and quick action after diagnosis. “Cancer is not a death sentence. Don’t let it get into your mind. Go to the nearest hospital and start treatment,” he said, adding a message of solidarity to patients. “For those already fighting, keep going. We are in this together.”