By Danjuma Amodu | February 4, 2026
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has called for intensified cross-border collaboration to combat Africa’s growing cancer crisis.
The Head of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, disclosed in a press statement that the Minister made this statement at the Africa Oncology Collaboration and Innovation Forum in Luxor, Egypt. Dr. Salako revealed sweeping reforms, expanded cancer infrastructure, and ambitious prevention strategies under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
According to GLOBACAN 2022 data, Africa recorded 1,185,216 new cancer cases and 763,843 related deaths, with Nigeria accounting for 10.5% of the continent’s cancer burden. Dr. Salako emphasized the need for a coordinated Pan-African response, stating,
“These unacceptable figures demand that we bridge borders, share resources, and establish a coordinated, Pan-African response. This is the essence of healthcare Pan-Africanism. “
Nigeria has significantly scaled up its national cancer control efforts, citing the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment in 2017 as the foundation of recent progress.
Key initiatives include the establishment of six new cancer centres of excellence across the country, procurement of specialised oncology equipment, expanded human capital development in cancer care, and enhanced cross-border collaborations.
The National Cancer Control Plan 2026-2030 outlines strategies for prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative care, survivorship, research, resource mobilisation, and quality improvement.
Nigeria aims to screen at least 50% of eligible women for cervical cancer by 2027 and treat 100% of detected precancerous lesions.
The government has also launched a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, targeting girls aged 9-14, with nearly 15 million girls vaccinated since October 2023. This positions Nigeria as one of Africa’s most aggressive nations in cervical cancer prevention.
The government is also implementing a National Cancer Health Fund and supporting the Nigeria Cancer Society’s private-sector-led Cancer Intervention Fund to ease the financial burden on patients and families.
Dr. Salako officially declared Nigeria’s support for the proposed African Oncology Network, describing it as a crucial platform to consolidate expertise, mobilise investments, and promote equitable access to quality cancer care across the continent.
During a guided tour of Shefa Alorman Hospital, the Minister commended the facility as a phenomenal African achievement driven by vision, commitment, and professional dedication.
He concluded by calling for a shift in continental priorities, saying Africa must move healthcare, especially cancer care, to the centre of its integration agenda in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The forum brought together leading oncology experts, policymakers, development partners, and civil society organisations from across Africa and beyond, under the theme, “Bridging borders for a stronger oncology care future in Africa.”
