The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship through resilient, innovative and equitable health systems, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this while declaring open the 2026 International Cancer Week in Abuja, organised by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with the theme: "United Against Cancer: Building Resilient, Innovative and Equitable Systems Across the Cancer Care Continuum."
He said the Ministry, through the National Cancer Control Programme and NICRAT, was implementing the costed National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030 through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). The Plan targets at least a 30 per cent reduction in Nigeria's cancer burden by 2030 through improved prevention, early diagnosis, data management and standardised treatment.
Salako listed the key interventions as the development and commissioning of cancer centres of excellence, the approved procurement of 35 Linear Accelerators over the next three years, expanded diagnostic services, and Immunohistochemistry services under the Nigeria Cancer Access Partnership Programme.
On prevention, he said the eight NICRAT Preventive Oncology Clinics across the six geopolitical zones, together with nationwide awareness initiatives, were expanding early detection. HPV vaccination has reached more than 18 million girls aged 9–14 years, while the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination was coordinating efforts towards the WHO 2030 elimination target.
The Minister said innovation, research and data would remain central to the national strategy, with digital health, artificial intelligence, telemedicine, molecular diagnostics, precision medicine and cancer registries being harnessed to improve clinical decisions and patient outcomes. He added that financial protection, through the National Cancer Health Fund and catastrophic health expenditure financing mechanisms, was critical to ensuring that cost does not stop anyone from completing treatment.
The opening follows Nigeria's strong showing at the World Cancer Congress 2026 in Hong Kong from 24 to 26 September, where a 46-member delegation led by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S., mni, presented the NCCP 2026–2030 as a model for moving from policy to implementation. At the Congress, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu was announced as the first African President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and Nigeria's Engraced Life Foundation won the 2026 World Cancer Day Campaign Award.
"Cancer control is a shared responsibility. Our goal is clear: no Nigerian should be denied lifesaving cancer care because of poverty, geography or social circumstance. Prevention must remain at the centre of our national response because prevention is not only better; it is cheaper and it is everything," Salako said.
He urged Nigerians to take advantage of available prevention, screening and early-detection services, and called on government institutions, development partners, academia, professional associations, the private sector, civil society and patient groups to turn the outcomes of the week into measurable action.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to a cancer-control system that saves lives, reduces financial hardship and ensures quality care for every Nigerian, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.
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