The Federal Government of Nigeria has commissioned three world-class oncology centres located in Katsina, Nsukka, and Benin, marking a significant step forward in the country’s effort to expand access to cancer care and tackle non-communicable diseases.
The centres, situated at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka; and University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State, were unveiled in a high-level ceremony jointly led by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris Malagi.
Each of the newly commissioned facilities is equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic and radiotherapy equipment and is expected to serve over 2,000 cancer patients annually while offering diagnostic services to more than 350,000 Nigerians across the regions.
The initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to build an equitable, accessible, and affordable healthcare system for all Nigerians. The establishment of these three centres marks the first phase of a broader effort to build ten oncology centres nationwide by 2026.
Notably, the centres will also serve as training grounds for a new generation of oncology professionals. Over the next three years, more than 500 clinicians are expected to receive advanced training, many through international collaborations, to operate and manage these specialised facilities.
The project is being implemented through a public-private partnership led by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and its healthcare subsidiary, MedServe. It forms part of the broader Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme aimed at reducing the burden of medical tourism, strengthening tertiary health infrastructure, and increasing access to quality care.
To ensure affordability, the government has introduced a cost-sharing mechanism in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). Through this scheme, eligible low-income patients will receive financial support for radiotherapy treatment, including subsidies of up to ₦400,000.
The remaining seven centres are expected to be completed and commissioned by World Cancer Day 2026, with additional sites planned in Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Yola, and other strategic locations across the country.
The initiative has been widely commended by stakeholders in the health sector, who described it as a bold and necessary move toward achieving universal health coverage and improving cancer survival rates in Nigeria.