The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, has raised fresh concerns over the increasing burden of cancer in Nigeria, describing it as a growing health crisis that demands urgent, multi-faceted intervention from the Federal Government.
Dr. Salako issued the warning on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the launch of Oncoseek, a cutting-edge blood-based test designed for early detection of nine high-mortality cancer types.
The event formed part of a two-day national workshop on the development of Nuclear Medicine Guidelines and Policy, organised by the National Technical Working Group (NTWG).
He noted that cancer-related illnesses are claiming more Nigerian lives due to late detection and poor access to effective treatment, stressing the need for advanced technologies and policy frameworks to reverse the trend.
“Cancer cases are rising at an alarming rate. It is no longer a health issue we can afford to treat with levity. We must deploy every available solution — from screening to diagnosis to treatment — if we are to save lives,” Salako warned.
The Minister highlighted the government’s ongoing cancer intervention programme, which includes the construction of six cancer centres of excellence across the six geopolitical zones.
He disclosed that the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, has been selected to host one of the centres under the second phase of the initiative scheduled for implementation in the 2025 federal budget.
According to him, Oncoseek — the newly introduced screening tool — has the capacity to detect cancers at early or even precancerous stages, thereby reducing late presentations that typically complicate treatment outcomes.
He added that the test covers breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, and stomach cancers.
“Oncoseek is a welcome innovation. It provides a quick and reliable way to identify patients who may need further diagnostic tests. It is a vital addition to our cancer control strategy,” he added.
Salako urged medical practitioners and stakeholders to embrace the new technology and make cancer screening a routine service across health facilities nationwide.
Meanwhile, President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, expressed concern over overlapping roles and disjointed operations in the cancer treatment space, warning that inefficiency and duplication were undermining progress and wasting resources.
“There is an urgent need to streamline operations in the cancer space. We cannot continue to let patients and the nation suffer because of fragmented responsibilities,” Omonisi said.
On his part, Chairman of the NTWG, Dr. Kehinde Ololade, stated that the aim of the workshop was to develop clear and actionable national guidelines and policies for the application of nuclear medicine in cancer management.
He said the working group had broken into specialised sub-committees focusing on clinical practice, infrastructure, governance, policy, advocacy, finance, and human capital development to deliver a comprehensive framework for cancer care.
“Our work is to provide the backbone for integrating nuclear medicine into Nigeria’s healthcare system in a sustainable, effective and accessible way,” Ololade added.
The Abeokuta meeting signals a renewed commitment by the Federal Government and health experts to confront the country’s cancer burden head-on through early detection, robust policy, and cutting-edge medical technology.
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