The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has announced that three major cancer treatment centres will be commissioned by May 2025.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Pate revealed that these centres are part of six major cancer infrastructure and equipment projects approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
“For the first time in Nigeria’s history, six major cancer infrastructure and equipment investments were approved by Mr. President early last year. Three of them will be ready by May 2025 for commissioning,” Pate stated.
He explained that the centres will be equipped with advanced cancer treatment technologies, including linear accelerators, brachytherapy machines, and diagnostic tools, to provide quality cancer care.
Additionally, the government has launched 10 new cancer diagnostic centres across the country and upgraded infrastructure in 201 tertiary health facilities with equipment such as MRI and CT scanners.
Pate also highlighted the expansion of federal medical facilities, including new centres in Lagos, Ekiti, Akure, and Southern Kaduna, alongside upgrades in Nasarawa and Azare.
Nigeria faces a growing cancer burden, with the Global Cancer Observatory reporting 127,763 new cases and 79,542 deaths in 2022.
Breast, prostate, and cervical cancers are the most prevalent.
The minister stressed the need to scale up healthcare capacity to meet the demands of Nigeria’s increasing population, now over 230 million.