By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has launched a nationwide free cancer screening programme aimed at early detection and reduction of cancer-related deaths across the country, with an initial target of 6,000 Nigerians in all six geopolitical zones.
The programme was officially flagged off on Friday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, as part of activities marking the golden jubilee of Ogun State and the February 4 World Cancer Day commemoration.
Dr. Salako described cancer as a major public health challenge, noting that Nigeria bears the highest cancer burden in Africa in terms of incidence and mortality. He said cancer-related deaths in the country now exceed fatalities from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined, largely due to late diagnosis and delayed treatment.
According to the minister, the free screening exercise will focus on breast, cervical and prostate cancers—the three most common cancers in Nigeria—while also promoting awareness, early detection and prompt treatment. The screenings, he said, will run throughout the month of February.
He highlighted that breast cancer has a global mortality rate of about 28 percent, with Nigeria recording figures far above the global average, while cervical cancer—accounting for about 21 percent of cancer deaths—is largely preventable and curable. Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men in Africa, while childhood cancers continue to show stark survival disparities between low- and high-income countries.
Dr. Salako explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises prevention as the most cost-effective strategy for tackling public health challenges. He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is addressing cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and environmental pollution, while strengthening preventive measures including vaccination.
He disclosed that as of late 2025, nearly 15 million girls aged 9 to 14 years have been vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) nationwide to prevent future cases of cervical cancer, alongside the continued use of the hepatitis B vaccine to curb liver cancer.
The minister also revealed that the ministry is working towards establishing a national cancer screening programme, with pilot preventive oncology clinics already operational in six centres across the country. He said plans are underway to integrate basic cancer screening services into primary healthcare centres before the end of President Tinubu’s first term in May 2027.
Assuring participants of quality service delivery, Dr. Salako said FMC Abeokuta would be supported by specialists from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to ensure effective screening and treatment.
He further announced plans to establish an ultra-modern cancer centre at FMC Abeokuta before the end of the current administration, directing relevant ministry officials to fast-track the project.
Dr. Salako commended the Ogun State Government for providing a conducive environment for federal health institutions to thrive and praised the management of FMC Abeokuta for its leadership and commitment to healthcare delivery.
READ ALSO: Igbo Youth Group Debunks Alleged Call to Arms by Ohanaeze President-General
Ndigbo, Our Greatest Barrier Is Ourselves
He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free screening exercise and adopt healthier lifestyles, stressing that early detection remains key to reducing cancer-related deaths.
“I hereby declare the 2026 nationwide free cancer screening programme open,” the minister said.
About The Author
