Cancers Account for 80,000 Deaths Annually in Nigeria, Says Health Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed that cancer is responsible for approximately 80,000 deaths each year in the country. He made this known during the inauguration of a state-of-the-art oncology centre at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina.

According to the minister, Nigeria records about 127,000 new cancer cases annually. He attributed the high mortality rate to late diagnosis, limited access to quality treatment, and the financial burden many patients face.

The increasing prevalence of cancer and other non-communicable diseases, he warned, poses a growing threat to public health and the nation’s healthcare system.

Prof. Pate emphasized the urgent need to improve early detection and expand access to life-saving treatment. The newly inaugurated oncology centre in Katsina, along with similar facilities in Enugu and Edo, is part of a broader national strategy to decentralize cancer care and bring advanced medical services closer to the people.

The new centres are equipped to provide chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and screening services. These interventions are expected to reduce the number of Nigerians seeking treatment abroad or facing delays due to travel and financial constraints.

The health minister also stressed the importance of awareness, accurate cancer data collection, and collaboration across all levels of government and healthcare institutions.

He noted that a sustained, collective effort is crucial to reversing the alarming trend and saving lives.

The figures presented reflect long-standing concerns within Nigeria’s medical community about the growing impact of cancer and highlight the government’s commitment to improving the country’s cancer response through strategic investments and policy reforms.