Cancer Control: FG Unveils New Roadmap, Prioritises Prevention, Early Detection<\/p>\n
The Federal Government has unveiled two landmark national policy documents aimed at strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria, as part of renewed efforts to curb the rising burden of cancer nationwide.<\/p>\n
The policies were unveiled recently in Abuja by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the 2026 World Cancer Day, observed globally on February 4 under the theme \u201cUnited by Unique.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Salako said the newly launched National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan\u2014the first of its kind in Nigeria\u2014and the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026\u20132030 represent a major milestone in the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu\u2019s Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector.<\/p>\n
” The Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has prioritised health sector and particularly cancer care by making huge investment within the short time in office than any other administration in this country”, the Honourable Minister emphasized.<\/p>\n
He noted that cancer remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, with about 20 million new cases and over 10 million deaths recorded globally in 2025, and projections indicating that annual cases could exceed 30 million by 2050, particularly affecting low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria.<\/p>\n
According to the Minister, the Federal Government is placing increased emphasis on cancer prevention, given that more than 40 per cent of cancer-related deaths globally are linked to modifiable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, unhealthy diets and air pollution.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo address this, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is working with relevant agencies to reduce exposure to risk factors, expand screening services and integrate cancer-preventive vaccines into the national immunisation programme,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Salako explained that the National Cancer Control Plan 2026\u20132030 provides a comprehensive framework for improving cancer risk assessment, prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and palliative care across the country, while also strengthening research, governance and sustainable financing.<\/p>\n
According to Alaba Balogun, the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, he added that the plan promotes the use of precision oncology and artificial intelligence to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment planning, research and cancer surveillance, in line with global best practices.<\/p>\n
As part of efforts to expand access to early detection services, the Minister announced that eight preventive oncology clinics have become fully operational in federal tertiary health institutions across the country, enabling Nigerians to access routine cancer screening services.<\/p>\n
The facilities are located at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja; FMC Ebute-Meta and the University Teaching Hospitals in Benin, Enugu, Sokoto, Ile-Ife as well as the Federal Teaching Hospitals in Gombe and Kano States<\/p>\n
Dr. Salako also disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), will provide free cancer screening services nationwide throughout the month of February, with programmes planned across the six geopolitical zones to promote early detection and favourable treatment outcomes.<\/p>\n
On her part, the Director\/Head, Hospital Services Department FMoHSW, Dr. Abisola Adegoke represented by Dr. Okpikpi Director Teaching Hospital Services stated that the commemoration provides an opportunity for oncology stakeholders across the globe to increase cancer awareness for early detection and prompt treatments.<\/p>\n
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to working with local and international partners, including the World Health Organization, African countries and global cancer institutions, to reduce cancer-related deaths and improve the quality of life of Nigerians living with cancer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cancer Control: FG Unveils New Roadmap, Prioritises Prevention, Early Detection The Federal Government has unveiled two landmark national policy documents aimed at strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria, as part of renewed efforts to curb the rising burden of cancer nationwide. The policies were unveiled recently in Abuja by the Honourable […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":149943,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2737,1720,2352],"class_list":{"0":"post-149939","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-others","8":"tag-2026-world-cancer-day","9":"tag-dr-iziaq-salako","10":"tag-ministerial-press-briefing"},"yoast_head":"\n