The federal government has commissioned three advanced oncology centres in Katsina, Enugu, and Benin as part of a broader push to expand cancer care infrastructure and reduce the country’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
The centres—the first phase of a national oncology initiative backed by the President Tinubu administration – are
located at the University of Katsina in Katsina State, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo State, and were unveiled on Thursday.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu at the commissioning ceremony, Ali Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, described the launch as a beacon of hope and progress in the country’s collective fight against cancer.
The initiative comes amid rising cancer incidence in Nigeria. According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN report, the country recorded over 127,800 new cases and nearly 80,000 cancer-related deaths. “It is projected that, by 2040, more than two-thirds of cancers and related deaths will occur in low- and middle-income countries,” Pate warned.
The project was executed in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), through its healthcare subsidiary MedServe. NSIA will operate the facilities as part of what will become the largest network of oncology and diagnostic centres in West Africa.
The centres are expected to serve 2,000 oncology patients and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually, while training up to 500 clinicians over the next three years.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the partnership of the NSIA under the direction of the Federal Ministry of Finance,” Pate said. He praised the collaboration as a proof of concept that “healthcare infrastructure investments in Nigeria can be viable, impactful, and sustainable.”
Nigeria currently has only eight linear accelerators to serve a population of over 200 million—equivalent to one per 25.7 million people, compared to one per 87,000 in the U.S. The new centres aim to close this critical gap. “To deliver multidisciplinary cancer care, Nigeria must make substantial investments in radiotherapy facilities,” Pate noted.
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He stressed that the commissioning marks the fulfillment of a major campaign promise under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. With N20 billion approved for oncology services in the 2024 federal budget and another N20 billion allocated for catastrophic health insurance in 2025, the government says it is laying the foundation for long-term reform.
“These funds supplement the existing N17.4 billion allocated for the Oncology Initiative (upgrade existing and establishment of new oncology and nuclear medicine centers) across six federal tertiary hospitals.
“This program will serve as a blueprint for many other healthcare infrastructure projects,” Pate said. “It will further propel us toward the attainment of our national healthcare goal—to save lives, reduce pain, and produce health for all Nigerians.”
At the commissioning ceremony, Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, described the oncology initiative as “a significant step forward in government effort to build a healthcare system that “delivers for all Nigerians—not in theory, but in practice.”
Edun highlighted that improving access to cancer care means not just treating illness but also “restoring hope, dignity, and the chance at full, productive lives.”
He spoke of the ministry of finance critical role in funding the centres, underscoring a broader commitment to smart investments that foster growth and rebuild public trust.
He also commended the NSIA “professionalism and leadership” in executing the project, building on the success of the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre in Lagos.
The new centres will expand cancer care access across Nigeria, with additional facilities planned in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; Jos University Teaching Hospital; as well as Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Edun also stressed the urgent need to strengthen human capacity alongside infrastructure, warning that while world-class equipment is vital, training skilled oncology professionals is even more important.
BusinessDay understands that the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina is equipped with advanced technology including a TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, CT Simulator, 3-D HDR Iridium Brachytherapy Machine—the second of its kind in Nigeria—an Ultrasound (USS) Machine, Treatment Planning System, and a Class 2-A Biosafety Cabinet.
Read also:NHEA 2022: Global Health calls for nomination for outstanding oncology centre of the year
At the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), patients benefit from facilities such as the TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, CT Simulator, Treatment Planning System, and a Class 2 Biosafety Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu houses a Halcyon Linear Accelerator, along with Treatment Planning System and Dosimetry Equipment to support comprehensive cancer care.
Additional infrastructure across all centres includes two generators per facility, newly installed transformers, and solar power systems.
“We are proud to have delivered these oncology centres in just 18 months, which demonstrates our capabilities,” Aminu Sadiq Umar, Managing Director and CEO of NSIA, told BusinessDay.
