Government raises alarm over cancer burden in Africa

A sobering warning echoed through the Best of ASCO Africa 2026 Conference in Abuja on Friday as the Federal Government declared that cancer has become Africa's deadliest public health threat. According to officials, the disease now claims more lives on the continent than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

The warning renewed calls for a united African response, with government officials, oncologists and researchers urging countries to move beyond fragmented efforts. They called for collaborative research, affordable treatment and stronger health systems to confront what speakers described as a rapidly escalating crisis.

Against the backdrop of scientific breakthroughs transforming cancer care globally, participants said millions of Africans continue to die because lifesaving innovations remain out of reach. They identified late diagnosis, weak health systems and prohibitive treatment costs as major drivers of avoidable deaths.

The conference was organised by the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) in partnership with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT). It centred on the theme: "From Global Discovery to Local Recovery: Driving Africa to the Cutting Edge of Cancer Care."

Salako outlines scale of the crisis and Nigeria's response

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described cancer as not only a health emergency but also a major threat to Africa's economic development, human security and sustainable growth.

Quoting figures from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), Salako said Africa recorded 1,187,697 new cancer cases and 721,629 cancer-related deaths in 2024. He added that Nigeria accounted for about 10.5 per cent of the continent's total burden alongside Egypt and South Africa.

Cancer is killing more Africans than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined,

— Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Federal Government

According to him, the rising burden is being driven by population growth, ageing, changing lifestyles, environmental risk factors, inadequate early detection, limited treatment facilities and persistent inequalities in healthcare access. He said the conference theme reflects the urgent need to ensure that scientific discoveries made around the world are translated into practical solutions that address Africa's realities rather than adopting foreign findings without local validation.

My challenge to all our eminent cancer professionals is not to take findings from other terrain and apply them hook, line and sinker, but to replicate the research work presented at the ASCO conferences in order to demonstrate the applicability of the findings in our environment,

— Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Federal Government

National cancer control plan and financing measures

Salako said the Tinubu administration had prioritised cancer prevention and treatment under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with a target of reducing Nigeria's cancer burden by 30 per cent by 2030. He said the implementation of the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan (2026–2030) is central to that effort.

He explained that the plan provides a comprehensive framework covering prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, research, data systems, artificial intelligence, workforce development and strategic partnerships. He also announced the inauguration of a multi-sectoral National Technical Working Group made up of cancer survivors, clinicians, researchers, civil society organisations, development partners and private sector stakeholders to coordinate implementation.

Acknowledging that the high cost of treatment remains one of the greatest barriers to care, the minister said the Federal Government is developing new financing mechanisms, including a Social Determinants Fund to support patients with transportation and other non-medical expenses. He further revealed ongoing discussions to expand catastrophic health insurance coverage under the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, to ease the financial burden on cancer patients.

What is clear is that we know what to do, and we're on the path of doing it already. It may not be at the pace everybody desires, but if we keep doing it, we'll eventually reach that pace that will touch every Nigerian cancer patient,

— Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Federal Government

Beyond Nigeria's borders, Salako urged African nations to embrace what he termed "Healthcare Pan-Africanism," arguing that healthcare should occupy the same strategic importance as trade, politics and security in continental cooperation. He also pledged Nigeria's commitment to championing collaborative cancer research, education and advocacy aimed at reducing cancer incidence and mortality across Africa.

Researchers cite progress in capacity and infrastructure

Also speaking, Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, highlighted what he described as significant milestones in strengthening Nigeria's cancer research capacity. According to him, about 140 early-career researchers have been trained through the Strengthening Institutional Capacity in Cancer Research (SINCA) programme.

He said research grants had also been awarded to 24 scientists. Aliyu further announced the completion of the first phase of Nigeria's Cancer Genome Study, describing it as a major scientific breakthrough that would lay the foundation for precision medicine tailored to the genetic characteristics of cancers affecting Nigerians.

Aliyu also disclosed that eight cancer centres across the country had been upgraded. He said three of the centres had already been equipped with modern linear accelerators and advanced diagnostic equipment, while procurement for additional centres was ongoing.

These developments were presented as part of efforts to improve the country's readiness to respond to a growing cancer burden, while building local research and treatment capacity that can support more targeted care.

Experts call for continental collaboration and stronger patient support

For Vice President (Americas) of AORTIC, Dr. Abiola Ibrahim, narrowing Africa's cancer gap requires ensuring that cutting-edge scientific knowledge reaches healthcare professionals on the continent, even where advanced treatments remain inaccessible. She said innovations such as immunotherapy, targeted therapies and precision medicine are transforming cancer care globally, but remain beyond the reach of many African patients because of their high cost.

What Best of ASCO Africa does is bring the knowledge to the continent. People who cannot travel to the United States to attend ASCO can access the latest research here in Africa,

— Dr. Abiola Ibrahim, Vice President (Americas), AORTIC

Ibrahim argued that African countries would have greater bargaining power if they negotiated collectively with pharmaceutical companies to improve access to innovative medicines.

One country cannot do this alone. One institution cannot do this alone. We need each other for us to move forward,

— Dr. Abiola Ibrahim, Vice President (Americas), AORTIC

Adding a frontline clinical perspective, breast cancer surgeon and health systems researcher, Prof. Miriam Mutebi, said Africa's greatest challenge is not only diagnosing cancer but ensuring patients complete treatment. She said many patients seek medical help only when the disease has reached advanced stages and often abandon treatment because of financial hardship and weak health systems.

We do know that for many parts of Africa, patients are not only diagnosed with advanced disease, but they often do not complete their care,

— Prof. Miriam Mutebi, Breast Cancer Surgeon and Health Systems Researcher

Mutebi urged governments to invest more heavily in prevention, early diagnosis, primary healthcare capacity and sustainable health financing, while tackling stigma that discourages many people from seeking prompt medical attention. She also called on African countries to apply lessons from decades of battling infectious diseases by building stronger, integrated and patient-centred healthcare systems capable of responding effectively to the growing cancer epidemic.

As the conference concluded, participants agreed that Africa possesses the knowledge to change the trajectory of cancer, but turning scientific progress into lives saved will require political will, sustained investment and broader continental collaboration.