With a view to combating the escalating cancer burden in Nigeria, the federal government has introduced a nationwide free cancer screening programme, set to provide treatment for 6,000 individuals across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Launched by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the initiative coincides with activities commemorating World Cancer Day 2026.
Dr. Salako emphasized that the programme aims to facilitate early detection and timely treatment of the three most prevalent types of cancers in Nigeria—breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. He highlighted that late diagnosis significantly contributes to the nation’s alarmingly high cancer mortality rates.
Currently, Nigeria bears the highest cancer burden in Africa, with cancer-related deaths surpassing those caused by tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS combined.
The minister described the free screening initiative as a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to prevention as the most cost-effective approach to tackling public health challenges.
In his remarks, Dr. Salako also mentioned that the government is enhancing cancer prevention strategies through vaccination programs, lifestyle modifications, and environmental protections. Notably, approximately 15 million girls aged nine to fourteen have already received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationwide, aiming to reduce future instances of cervical cancer.
“Incidentally, the death rate is higher in our environment than in the Western world due to late diagnosis and delayed commencement of treatment.
“We have also introduced the hepatitis B vaccine as a primary prevention strategy against liver cancer,” he said.
Dr Salako further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was working towards instituting a national cancer screening programme, with pilot preventive oncology clinics already established in six centres across the country.
He said the government plans to integrate basic cancer screening services into primary healthcare centres before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in May 2027.
He urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility by avoiding tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets, which he identified as major cancer risk factors.
The minister commended the Ogun State Government for providing a peaceful and enabling environment for healthcare delivery and praised the management of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, for demonstrating leadership in service delivery.
He also expressed optimism that an ultra-modern cancer centre would be commissioned at the facility before the end of the current administration, noting that this would strengthen cancer care services in Ogun State and beyond.
Dr Salako called on Nigerians to take full advantage of the free screening opportunity, stressing that early detection saves lives.
He formally declared the 2026 nationwide free cancer screening programme open, assuring that qualified medical experts from FMC Abeokuta and the University College Hospital, Ibadan, would provide quality services throughout the exercise.
This initiative marks a pivotal step toward addressing the growing challenge of cancer in Nigeria, underscoring the importance of early intervention and comprehensive health strategies.
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