- FG is expanding funding and local drug production to improve cancer care in Nigeria
- New health funds aim to reduce treatment costs and support indigent cancer patients
- Experts called for stronger research and wider access to advanced cancer therapies across Africa
The Federal Government has announced plans to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment by increasing funding, promoting local production of cancer medicines and expanding research, with the goal of making care more affordable for Nigerians.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Aliyu, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja during the Best of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Africa 2026 conference.
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The event, organised in collaboration with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), focused on the theme, “From Global Discovery to Local Delivery: Driving Africa to the Cutting Edge of Cancer Care.”
Aliyu acknowledged that cancer treatment remains expensive for many Nigerians but said the government has introduced several programmes to reduce the financial burden on patients.
He explained that the Catastrophic Health Fund, managed by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), provides financial support for eligible patients by covering aspects of cancer prevention, diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
According to him, NICRAT also administers the National Cancer Health Fund, which assists indigent patients who cannot afford treatment.
Aliyu noted that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain would encourage the local manufacturing of cancer medicines, improve availability and reduce dependence on imported drugs.
He added that participants at the conference would examine major cancer research findings presented at the recent ASCO annual meeting and explore ways to adapt those innovations to African healthcare systems.
“Our goal is to localise access to advanced cancer treatment by producing essential medicines in Nigeria and applying global research findings to improve patient care,” he said.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Research and Innovation to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Lolade Adewale, said the government is working to strengthen financial protection for cancer patients through dedicated health insurance programmes.
She explained that the Cancer Health Fund and the Social Determinants of Health Fund are expected to improve access to treatment for eligible Nigerians, adding that additional measures to expand cancer insurance coverage would be unveiled within the next year.
Adewale further revealed that Nigeria has launched three immunotherapy clinical trials for the first time, giving patients access to advanced cancer medicines that were previously unavailable in the country.
She said drugs such as Nivolumab and Keytruda are now being offered free of charge to participants enrolled in the clinical studies, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment.
Speaking at the conference, the immediate past President of AORTIC, Dr. Miriam Mutebi, expressed concern that Africa contributes only about eight per cent of global cancer research despite carrying a significant share of the disease burden.
She urged African governments to increase investment in research and development by meeting the commitment to allocate one per cent of Gross Domestic Product to research, saying stronger funding would improve cancer diagnosis, treatment outcomes and healthcare systems across the continent.
The Chief Medical Officer of ASCO, Dr. Julie Gralow, also noted that many of the world’s leading cancer therapies have not been sufficiently studied among African populations.
She said the conference provides an opportunity to examine how international breakthroughs can be adapted to Africa while addressing challenges related to cost and accessibility.
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