Di Federal Government and oncology experts don raise fresh alarm about cancer for Africa. Dem say di disease now dey kill more people for kontinu than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis put together. Dis warning come at di Best of ASCO Africa 2026 Conference wey hold for Abuja.
Di conference na di African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and di National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) organise am. Di Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, talk say Africa no fit treat cancer as secondary matter again. He call am big threat to human security and economic development.
According to Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), Africa record 1,187,697 new cancer cases and 721,629 deaths for 2024. Di minister say di numbers no acceptable. Di highest cancer cases come from North Africa, especially Algeria, Egypt and South Africa.
Salako say cancer dey kill more Africans than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. He blame di growing burden on lifestyle and environmental risk factors, ageing populations, weak early detection systems, inadequate treatment infrastructure and health inequities.
Di conference theme na “From Global Discovery to Local Recovery: Driving Africa to the Cutting Edge of Cancer Care.” Di minister say President Bola Ahmed Tinubu don make cancer prevention and treatment part of health priorities under Renewed Hope Agenda. Di target na to reduce Nigeria cancer burden by 30 per cent by 2030.
Government don start implement Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan (2026–2030). Di plan cover prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, patient navigation, survivorship, research, data management, artificial intelligence, partnerships, resource mobilisation and oncology workforce development. A multi-sectoral National Technical Working Group don inaugurate to ensure effective implementation.
Salako challenge cancer professionals to replicate research work for Africa instead of just applying findings from other places. He say di government dey introduce new funding mechanisms, including a Social Determinants Fund to help patients with transportation and other non-medical expenses. Talks dey go on to expand catastrophic health insurance coverage under National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Di minister advocate “Healthcare Pan-Africanism.” He say Africa must unite around healthcare. Nigeria ready to champion greater collaboration in cancer research, education and advocacy.
Di Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, highlight progress. Di institute train about 140 early-career researchers through Strengthening Institutional Capacity in Cancer Research (SINCA) programme and award research grants to 24 scientists. Di first phase of Nigeria Cancer Genome Study don complete. Eight cancer centres don upgrade nationwide, three get modern linear accelerators and advanced diagnostic facilities.
Vice President (Americas) of AORTIC, Dr. Abiola Ibrahim, say Best of ASCO Africa dey help bridge gap between global cancer innovations and African patients. She say many African countries no fit access precision medicine, immunotherapy and targeted therapies because of prohibitive costs. She argue say African countries go get stronger negotiating power if dem collectively engage pharmaceutical companies.
Breast cancer surgeon and health systems researcher, Prof. Miriam Mutebi, call for increased investment in prevention, early diagnosis, health financing and stronger health systems. She lament say many African patients seek treatment only after cancer don reach advanced stages. Dem often no fit complete treatment because of financial hardship and weak healthcare systems.
Mutebi urge governments to strengthen screening programmes, improve capacity of primary healthcare workers to detect cancer early and tackle stigma. She say Africa cancer response should build on lessons from fight against infectious diseases.
Di conference bring together oncologists, researchers, clinicians, policymakers and development partners from across Africa. Dem review latest findings from 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and explore strategies for adapting innovations to African healthcare settings.
