ABUJA – The Federal Government will commission three new cancer centres on May 29, 2025, marking the first phase of a national initiative to establish ten cancer treatment facilities across Nigeria.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the development in a statement on Saturday via social media platform X. He described the initiative as the largest investment in cancer care in Nigeria’s history and West Africa, executed in partnership with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.
The centres—located at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka; and University of Benin Teaching Hospital—will be inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu and opened to the public in the coming weeks.
According to Pate, the facilities are part of a comprehensive cancer care program designed to establish the largest network of oncology and diagnostic centres in the region. The centres are expected to serve nearly 2,000 oncology patients and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually, while also training up to 500 clinicians over a three-year period.
Preparations for full operations are underway, with key personnel currently undergoing specialized training in South Africa. Additionally, the National Health Insurance Authority has introduced a cost-sharing initiative to enhance access to radiotherapy, offering subsidies of up to N400,000 for eligible low-income patients.
“This marks a turning point in our efforts to reduce the cancer burden in Nigeria and improve outcomes for patients,” Pate stated.
