The Federal Government has launched a N50 million support fund to help cancer patients overcome the financial struggles that often stop them from accessing treatment.

The money is meant to cover non-medical costs like transportation, accommodation, and feeding, which many patients cannot afford. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, announced the initiative on Wednesday in Abuja during the official unveiling of the fund’s disbursement.

According to the minister, more than 600 cancer patients have already applied for help under the new scheme. Over 200 applicants have been verified through a screening process involving medical directors and doctors at their treatment centres. Each verified beneficiary will receive at least N100,000 to help address the social and economic barriers that make cancer care so difficult for many Nigerians.

Salako explained that while the government has invested heavily in cancer care infrastructure and subsidised treatment, many patients still struggle to start or complete their therapy. The indirect costs—such as paying for transport to urban hospitals, finding accommodation far from home, and buying food—often lead to delays or poor treatment outcomes. These challenges hit low-income and vulnerable Nigerians the hardest.

The initiative came from recommendations of the National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group, which was set up after the launch of Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030.

The minister praised the group for their commitment, noting that members had even made personal donations worth millions of naira to get the fund started. He urged them to work with existing government programmes like the Cancer Health Fund and the Vulnerable Group Fund to improve support for patients.

Salako reaffirmed the government’s goal to cut Nigeria’s cancer burden by 50 per cent by 2030 through better prevention, screening, and treatment. He assured cancer patients that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to ensure that a cancer diagnosis does not become a death sentence.

The government also hopes to attract more donations from corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to bridge the remaining gaps in cancer care.