The Federal Government has announced plans to procure 35 additional linear accelerators between 2027 and 2029 as part of efforts to expand access to radiotherapy and improve cancer treatment in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving members of the Global Advisory Council of the National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group.
Salako also revealed that the government had commenced the construction of six cancer centres of excellence across the country, with three already completed and the remaining three at various stages of development.
He said the measures were part of the Federal Government’s implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, which places emphasis on cancer prevention, early detection and improved access to treatment.
According to the minister, cancer remains a major health challenge, particularly in Africa, where late presentation, inadequate infrastructure, shortage of skilled manpower and limited resources continue to contribute to high mortality.
He said the government had also strengthened cancer prevention through the inclusion of Human Papillomavirus vaccination in the routine immunisation schedule, while expanding cervical cancer screening and integrating screening services into primary healthcare.
“Prevention is better and cheaper than cure. We are doing everything we can to expand immunisation, improve screening and ensure that cancer is detected at a very early stage,” Salako said.
The minister further inaugurated the Blood Cancer Consortium, describing it as a platform for advancing knowledge, collaboration and improved outcomes in the management of blood cancers.
Salako said international partnerships and expertise would remain critical to the successful implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan, urging the Global Advisory Council and the Technical Working Group to mobilise additional expertise and resources to support Nigeria’s cancer control efforts.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group, Prof. Folakemi Odedina, said the initiative had brought together Nigerian experts at home and in the diaspora, government, academia, healthcare providers, patients, advocates, industry and international partners.
Odedina said the Technical Working Group had become operational and was working towards measurable progress on the country’s 2030 cancer control targets.
She added that the group was developing a stronger national oncology clinical trials ecosystem to build the capacity of Nigerian investigators, strengthen trial-ready institutions and improve patients’ access to clinical trials.
She also announced a new strategic partnership model involving Nigerian institutions and leading global cancer centres, including the University of Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center and Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The meeting ended with the ceremonial signing of a strategic partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group and members of the Global Advisory Council.
