President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will, on Thursday, commission three newly completed cancer treatment centres in Katsina, Benin and Nsukka, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against the growing burden of cancer.
The centres, located at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Nsukka; and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, are part of six oncology centres being upgraded across the country under a federal government initiative.
The initiative is being driven by the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) following a directive by President Tinubu in March 2024, aimed at revitalising cancer care and treatment infrastructure in six Federal University Teaching Hospitals across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the centres were built to meet global standards and represent a critical step in President Tinubu’s commitment to providing quality healthcare and tackling the country’s growing cancer burden.
“Tomorrow’s commissioning reflects the President’s resolve not to abandon projects initiated by the previous administration, especially those that directly impact lives,” Pate said.
The remaining centres, located at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria; University of Jos Teaching Hospital; and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, are billed for commissioning in the second phase of the project.
According to Prof. Pate, the cancer centre upgrade is the single largest investment in cancer care in Nigeria’s history.
“This is the most significant investment any Nigerian administration has ever made in cancer care, and it entails the largest chain of oncology and diagnostic centres in West Africa,” he said.
He added that the centres, when fully operational, will serve nearly 2,000 oncology patients and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually, and train up to 500 clinicians over a three-year period.
Data from 2022 shows cancer was the fourth leading cause of death in Nigeria, with 5,912 deaths recorded from 8,114 diagnosed cases.
To address this public health crisis, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NSIA and the six selected hospitals to implement the project.
This includes the deployment of the N17.9 billion balance from the initial appropriation, plus an additional N30 billion allocated in the 2024 budget—bringing the total project funding to N37.9 billion.
Pate noted that the NSIA’s direct procurement model had eliminated intermediaries and bottlenecks, saving the country about N10 billion and securing a 30 per cent discount on critical medical equipment.
“This marks the end of a tragic era for Nigerians battling cancer. With these centres, we have not only restored hope but also ensured sustainability in advanced cancer care across the country,” he said.
Beyond funding, NSIA’s involvement is expected to guarantee long-term infrastructure support and staff training to ensure the sustainability of these Centres of Excellence.
The health minister emphasized that the centres represent the beginning of a broader plan to establish 10 modern cancer treatment facilities nationwide.
“This is unprecedented. We are building a sustainable network of cancer and diagnostic centres that will transform how Nigerians receive care and improve survival rates,” Pate stated.