The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, announced on Monday that three major cancer treatment facilities with state-of-the-art equipment will be commissioned by May 2025.
This marks a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against cancer, as the country prepares to unveil the first-ever major infrastructure for cancer treatment on such a scale.
During a televised interview, Pate revealed that six major cancer infrastructure projects were approved by President Bola Tinubu in early 2024, with three of them scheduled for completion by May 2025. These facilities will be equipped with advanced technologies such as linear accelerators, brachytherapy, and other diagnostic tools necessary for high-level cancer care, which has long been lacking in Nigeria.
“For the first time in Nigeria’s history, these facilities will provide tertiary-level cancer care, allowing those suffering from cancer to access high-quality treatment within the country,” Pate explained. “This is a major step forward for cancer care in Nigeria.”
Additionally, the minister noted that the government had also launched 10 major cancer diagnostic centers across the country five months ago, further strengthening the nation’s capacity to address the growing cancer burden.
In the past year, 201 tertiary healthcare facilities have undergone upgrades, including the addition of cutting-edge equipment like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans, as well as anesthesia equipment. This ongoing improvement in healthcare infrastructure aims to enhance service delivery across the country.
Looking ahead, Pate highlighted that the federal government is investing in the training and development of human resources to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services, particularly in tertiary institutions. “Expanding our healthcare facilities is crucial, especially as Nigeria’s population grows and the healthcare needs increase,” he said.
Further expanding the country’s healthcare capacity, the government has approved new hospitals and medical centers, including new Federal Medical Centres in Epe, Lagos, and Ekiti, as well as a new Federal Teaching Hospital in Akure and upgraded hospitals in Nasarawa and Kafanchan.
Cancer remains a major health challenge in Nigeria. According to the Global Cancer Observatory, the country recorded 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 deaths in 2022. Among these, breast cancer was the most prevalent, followed by prostate cancer and cervical cancer. Additionally, an estimated 78,000 people died from cancer-related complications in 2020, with females accounting for a larger share of the fatalities.
As the government continues to invest in infrastructure and training, there is hope that the new cancer facilities will help improve the quality of cancer care and save countless lives.
