FG set to commission three cancer treatment centers nationwide
By Kunle Sanni
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to commission three state-of-the-art cancer treatment centers across the country on May 29, as part of a broader initiative to overhaul the nation’s cancer care system.
The announcement was made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, in a statement on Saturday, highlighting what he described as the most significant investment in oncology services by any administration in Nigeria’s history.
According to the Minister, the newly completed centers — located at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka; and University of Benin Teaching Hospital — represent the first phase in a ten-center rollout aimed at expanding access to quality cancer diagnostics and treatment nationwide.
“This is the largest chain of oncology and diagnostic centers in West Africa,” Prof. Pate said. “It has the capacity to train up to 500 clinicians over the next three years while serving nearly 2,000 oncology patients and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually.”
The initiative comes at the midpoint of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure, which Prof. Pate hailed as a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against cancer. The move aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and aims to dismantle long-standing barriers to both the availability and affordability of cancer care.
To further reduce financial strain on vulnerable populations, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched a cost-sharing scheme that subsidizes up to ₦400,000 for eligible patients undergoing radiotherapy. Meanwhile, core clinical staff are currently undergoing specialized training in South Africa ahead of the centers’ full-scale operations.
“These efforts mark a new era in Nigeria’s health sector,” Prof. Pate stated. “We are not only investing in infrastructure but also in the human capacity and financial support systems that will make comprehensive cancer care accessible to all.”
The commissioning on May 29 will be led by President Tinubu, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to reshaping the country’s healthcare delivery system.
