Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed concern over the rising burden of cancer in Nigeria, revealing that the country accounts for about 10.5 per cent of all cancer cases and deaths recorded across Africa.
He also announced the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing the country’s cancer burden by at least 30 per cent by 2030 through the implementation of a comprehensive National Cancer Control Plan.
Shettima spoke on Thursday at the Second African Primary Health Care Forum in Abuja, where he said the government had adopted the Nigerian National Cancer Control Plan (2026–2030) to strengthen cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr Uju Rochas-Anwukah, the Vice President cited data from the Global Cancer Observatory showing that Africa recorded more than 1.18 million new cancer cases and over 721,000 cancer-related deaths in 2024.
“The Global Cancer Observatory recorded more than 1.18 million new cancer cases and above 721,000 cancer deaths on this continent in 2024. Nigeria alone accounts for about 10.5 per cent of that burden,” he said.
According to Shettima, the National Cancer Control Plan provides a roadmap for improving cancer prevention, expanding access to early diagnosis, enhancing treatment services and strengthening palliative care nationwide.
“We have responded with the Nigerian National Cancer Control Plan for 2026 to 2030 and a commitment to reduce our cancer burden by at least 30 per cent by the end of this decade,” he said.
The Vice President said the Federal Government was also expanding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening programmes as part of efforts to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health challenge by 2030.
He disclosed that the administration was implementing additional initiatives to improve healthcare services for people living with sickle cell disorder, while establishing a Brain Health Desk under the National Mental Health Programme and developing Nigeria’s first National Brain Health Agenda.
Shettima noted that non-communicable diseases, including cancer, hypertension and diabetes, continue to place increasing pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He stressed the need to strengthen primary healthcare services to improve the prevention, early detection and management of chronic diseases across the country.
Highlighting the role of innovation in healthcare delivery, the Vice President said artificial intelligence has been incorporated into the National Cancer Control Plan to improve cancer care and support clinical decision-making.
He, however, emphasised that digital health technologies must be developed using local data to ensure they accurately reflect African populations and address the continent’s unique healthcare needs.
