The Federal Government has commenced the construction of six Cancer Centres of Excellence across the country’s six geopolitical zones, in a renewed effort to combat the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria.
This development was announced by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiaq Salako, on Friday during the launch of the OncoSeek Cancer Screening Test in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking at a workshop focused on developing National Nuclear Medicine Guidelines and Policy, Salako emphasized that the increasing cancer rates in the country necessitate a comprehensive and innovative response. He stated that the centres, designed for early detection, diagnosis, and advanced treatment, are part of a multi-phase initiative to improve access to specialized cancer care. “We are implementing programmes cutting across prevention, treatment, and control,” the minister said.
Three of the six centres are already nearing completion, with additional funding set aside in the 2025 budget to expand the initiative. Salako confirmed that the Federal Medical Centre in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, will be among the new beneficiaries in the second phase of the project. “I am happy to announce that in this second phase, FMC Abeokuta has been selected to be a recipient of a cancer centre of excellence,” he disclosed.
At the heart of the event was the unveiling of the OncoSeek Cancer Screening Test, a blood-based diagnostic tool capable of detecting nine high-mortality cancer types, including breast, colon, liver, lung, pancreatic, ovarian, and stomach cancers. Salako described the technology as a significant breakthrough in cancer prevention, saying, “Screening services that can detect cancers early or even at the precancerous stage are an important mechanism in the control of cancer.”
In addition to the cancer centres, the minister revealed that Nigeria now has a dedicated agency for cancer research — the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment. He also spoke on the government’s strategic investment in nuclear medicine, referencing the inauguration of the Technical Working Group on Nuclear Medicine Guidelines and Policy earlier in the year. “Their recommendations will be implemented in their entirety,” he assured.
Dr. Kehinde Ololade, Chairman of the Technical Working Group, explained that the committee’s role is to create frameworks and policies to guide the integration of nuclear medicine into cancer care in Nigeria. Echoing the need for urgent action, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, noted that nuclear medicine offers life-saving potential and stressed that cancer “can no longer be ignored.”
Adding his voice, Professor Abidemi Omonisi, President of the Nigeria Cancer Society, commended the Ministry of Health’s efforts, particularly Dr. Salako’s role in driving collaboration across the health sector. “Bringing health workers together to focus on cancer prevention is a commendable step,” Omonisi said, expressing optimism about the country’s renewed focus on tackling cancer head-on.
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