The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Professor Abidemi Omonisi, has raised alarm over the dire state of cancer care in Nigeria, revealing that 16 states are currently without a single clinical oncologist.
He described this shortage as a major setback in the fight against cancer, especially given the increasing number of cases across the country.
Speaking in Abeokuta during the launch of Oncoseek—a new blood-based diagnostic tool for early cancer detection—Omonisi warned that the absence of trained cancer specialists in so many states results in inadequate treatment for patients. “Managing cancer is not like treating malaria,” he explained. “You need a multidisciplinary team, and clinical oncologists are key.”
The Oncoseek launch was held as part of a two-day workshop focused on establishing National Nuclear Medicine Guidelines and Policy, coordinated by Nigeria’s National Technical Working Group. Omonisi, an expert in anatomic pathology and molecular cancer research, noted that while federal efforts in cancer control have progressed, local and state responses remain worryingly weak.
Refusing to disclose the specific states affected, Omonisi highlighted broader issues, such as the absence of data on cancer patients in many regions. “Some states don’t even have a designated officer for cancer care,” he said. “If you ask how many cancer patients they manage, they can’t tell you. Without data, there’s no intervention.”
He added that basic diagnostic equipment like mammography machines is also unavailable in several states, leaving residents to travel long distances for essential screening. “This places a huge burden on already vulnerable patients and contributes to late-stage diagnoses and poor outcomes,” he said.
In response, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Kunle Salako, acknowledged the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria and emphasized the federal government’s commitment to tackling it. According to him, several initiatives are underway, including the establishment of six centres of excellence for cancer treatment—one in each geopolitical zone.
Salako stressed that Nigeria must adopt every available innovation to curb the cancer crisis. He praised tools like Oncoseek for offering hope in early detection, but emphasized that sustainable progress will require robust collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, as well as improved healthcare infrastructure across the board.
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