The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched three oncology centres in Katsina, Nsukka, and Benin to expand cancer care and improve health access.
A Major Leap Forward in Nigeria’s Fight Against Cancer
The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a bold step in improving healthcare services by launching three modern oncology centres in Katsina, Nsukka, and Benin. These new centres are designed to offer advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment, serving thousands of Nigerians every year. It’s part of the government’s long-term plan to improve cancer care, reduce medical tourism, and make critical treatment affordable for more people.
This achievement reflects the strong commitment of the Tinubu-led administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle non-communicable diseases like cancer and expand access to quality healthcare.
What Happened?
In a high-level event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, led the official commissioning of the centres. Also present were the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Muhammad Idris Malagi.
The new oncology facilities are located at:
Federal Teaching Hospital, KatsinaUniversity of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka
University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin
These facilities are fully equipped with modern diagnostic equipment and radiotherapy machines, giving Nigeria’s health system a stronger capacity to detect and treat cancer locally.
Key Benefits of the New Oncology Centres
Each of these centres is expected to treat over 2,000 cancer patients annually, directly serving more than 350,000 people in the surrounding regions. These developments will reduce the burden on existing hospitals and help save more lives through earlier diagnosis and faster treatment.
1. Training Future Health Professionals
Over the next three years, more than 500 doctors and clinicians will receive specialized training in oncology through these centres. This will help build a new generation of skilled cancer care professionals in Nigeria.
2. Supporting Affordable Care
The centres operate under a cost-sharing model in partnership with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). Patients will be able to access subsidized radiotherapy treatments, with up to ₦400,000 covered by health insurance support. This helps make cancer care more accessible, especially for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
3. Strong Public-Private Partnership
The project is driven by cooperation between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) through its healthcare arm, MedServe. This partnership shows how public and private sectors can work together to improve lives.
Why This Matters for Nigeria
This commissioning marks a major milestone in the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which aims to upgrade Nigeria’s healthcare delivery through targeted investments. For many years, Nigerians have had to travel abroad to get cancer treatment, often at a high cost. With these new centres, many of those trips will no longer be necessary.
It also means that more patients will be diagnosed early, which improves survival chances. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria, and stronger local facilities mean more hope for families facing this challenge.
Future Plans: Seven More Centres by 2026
This is only the beginning. The Federal Government has already started work on seven more oncology centres, which will be located in Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Yola, and other key cities. The target is to complete and commission all ten centres by World Cancer Day – February 4, 2026.
These additional centres will ensure that every region in Nigeria has access to advanced cancer care, further closing the gap in health inequality and building stronger resilience in the nation’s health system.
The launch of the oncology centres in Katsina, Nsukka, and Benin shows real action behind the government’s promise to improve healthcare for Nigerians. It reflects a serious investment in both infrastructure and human capacity, with strong support from both the public and private sectors.
As more centres are built and more professionals are trained, cancer care in Nigeria will become more affordable, available, and effective. This is a big step forward in the journey to create a healthier, stronger Nigeria.
Help spread awareness about these new oncology centres. Share this article with friends, family, and community leaders. If you or someone you know is dealing with cancer, reach out to any of these new centres for support. Together, we can fight cancer and save more lives in Nigeria.
Source: Federal Ministry of Health, NSIA, NHIA, and the Renewed Hope Agenda Press Team – www.health.gov.ng