Nigeria’s cancer crisis took centre stage in Abuja as stakeholders warned that conflict and insecurity are fast turning a public health challenge into a national emergency.
At a high-level symposium organised by Project PINK BLUE (Health & Psychological Trust Centre) on Tuesday to mark World Cancer Day 2026, government officials, development partners, health experts, civil society leaders and cancer survivors converged to interrogate a troubling theme: Cancer, Conflict and Insecurity in Nigeria.
The message was urgent and unanimous, cancer care must not become another casualty of violence, displacement and fragile health systems.
A Growing Crisis
Speaking at the event, Senior Finance and Administration Officer of Project PINK BLUE, Godwin Kagior, described cancer as not only a medical condition but a social justice issue, particularly in communities battling poverty, displacement and insecurity.
He said the organisation convened the symposium to move stakeholders beyond talk to action.
“Cancer is not a death sentence if detected early and properly treated,” Kagior said. “But many Nigerians are losing their lives because they cannot afford treatment or access care in time.”
Founded in 2014, Project PINK BLUE has spent the past 11 years on cancer awareness, advocacy, patient navigation, research, oncology training, psychological support and free screening. Kagior noted that its annual World Cancer Day Symposium has evolved into a major platform shaping national conversations on cancer control.
He disclosed that the organisation has lobbied the National Assembly for increased funding and called on government to declare a state of emergency on cancer treatment.
“Cancer treatment is expensive. Families are overwhelmed. Government must step in with dedicated funding for screening and treatment because behind every statistic is a human life,” he said.
Alarming Statistics
Also speaking, Imo State First Lady and Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s cancer burden.
She revealed that Nigeria records about 128,000 new cancer cases annually, with breast cancer leading cancer-related deaths among women and prostate cancer among men. Thousands of those deaths, she stressed, are preventable through early detection and uninterrupted treatment.
But insecurity is worsening outcomes.
Health facilities in conflict-affected areas have shut down. Health workers have fled due to kidnappings and attacks. Prolonged disruptions including sit-at-home orders in parts of the South East have delayed chemotherapy sessions, follow-ups and palliative care.
“These are not just statistics,” Uzodimma said. “They are mothers, fathers and children whose lives are cut short because care is unavailable or unsafe to access.”
She highlighted partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, the World Health Organisation and civil society groups to advance cervical cancer elimination through HPV vaccination and large-scale screening.
However, she warned that gains are being undermined in the North East, North West and parts of the South East by disrupted supply chains, displacement and poverty, pushing many patients to present at late stages.
She called for mobile clinics, protection for health workers, safe corridors for medical supplies and expanded funding for the National Cancer Health Fund.
Strengthening Institutions
For the Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Aliyu Malami represented by Prof. Musa Ali-Gombe, progress has been made, but challenges remain significant.
He identified weak coordination, limited decentralisation of services and inadequate funding as major barriers to effective cancer control.
He noted that cancer services remain heavily concentrated in major cities, leaving rural and conflict-affected communities without access to prevention, screening and early diagnosis.
The establishment of NICRAT, he said, marked a turning point as Nigeria now has a dedicated agency and budget line for cancer control for the first time.
Since 2020, funding for cancer care has increased steadily, though it remains below national needs. NICRAT, he revealed, has strengthened cancer registries across the six geopolitical zones and produced a draft national cancer incidence report for the first time, a milestone for evidence-based planning.
Through the National Cancer Health Fund, free treatment is currently being provided for breast, cervical and prostate cancers at designated centres of excellence, with plans to expand coverage.
He stressed the need to integrate cancer care into national security and humanitarian response plans to protect displaced persons living with chronic conditions.
Call for Political Will
Former Senator representing Abia North and sponsor of the NICRAT establishment bill, Mao Ohuabunwa, described cancer as a national emergency requiring sustained political commitment.
He recalled the long advocacy and collaboration that led to the passage of the NICRAT bill and urged stakeholders to shift focus from legislation to effective implementation.
“Insecurity has compounded an already difficult situation,” he said, calling for stronger funding, oversight and coordinated action among the executive, legislature, civil society and development partners.
Survivors’ Voices
The most emotional moments of the symposium came from cancer survivors and advocates who shared stories of misdiagnosis, late presentation and financial hardship.
Their testimonies reinforced calls for cancer care to be fully integrated into Nigeria’s health, security and humanitarian frameworks.
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Cancer Day, stakeholders insist that the country can no longer afford fragmented responses.
The consensus in Abuja was clear: cancer care must be prioritised, protected and funded, even, and especially, in times of conflict and insecurity.
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