Nigeria is grappling with a staggering cancer crisis, recording approximately 127,000 new cases and 80,000 deaths each year, according to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
Professor Pate disclosed this troubling statistic on Thursday while commissioning a newly established Oncology Center at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Katsina.
“The reality is grim — we’re seeing about 127,000 new cancer cases annually, and sadly, around 80,000 of those result in fatalities. That’s the weight of the challenge we’re facing,” he said.
He emphasized that non-communicable diseases, particularly cancers, are rapidly increasing within Nigeria’s overall disease burden. This, he noted, is exacting a significant toll—not only in terms of human suffering but also financially, pushing countless households into severe economic hardship due to treatment costs.
Speaking further, the minister highlighted the crucial role of the healthcare sector in delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He stressed that by establishing cancer treatment centers across all six geopolitical zones of the country, early detection and timely treatment could significantly improve survival rates.
“Late-stage diagnosis limits the effectiveness of treatment. If caught early, the outcomes can be much more promising,” Pate added.
He also revealed that the 2026 national budget would include provisions to alleviate the financial burden of cancer care for families battling catastrophic health expenditures.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Suleiman Bello-Muhammed, gave further insights into the new facility, which boasts a 20-bed Chemotherapy Suite, including private rooms for VIPs.
The center is equipped with a team of 26 oncology nurses, seven therapy radiographers, eight medical physicists, and six oncology pharmacists. It also features a dedicated pharmacy compounding unit for preparing chemotherapy medications.
Dr. Bello-Muhammed stated that the equipment installed matches the standards of leading cancer centers around the world. He also noted the presence of a nuclear physician trained in South Africa.
However, he expressed concern over retaining the specialist, citing the risk of losing him to migration abroad—a growing trend known locally as “japa”—unless the nuclear medicine section of the center is fully developed.
“As always, like Oliver Twist, we ask for more. We appeal to the Honourable Minister to support the completion of the nuclear medicine department so we can retain our skilled personnel and offer comprehensive cancer care,” he said.
About The Author
