Nigeria to procure 25 linear accelerators for cancer treatment

The Nigerian Federal Government has announced a plan to procure 25 additional linear accelerators between 2027 and 2029 to expand the country’s cancer treatment capacity. This initiative is part of the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030 framework, which focuses on prevention, early detection, treatment, and research.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stated that the strategy aims to address the significant cancer burden in Nigeria, where high fatality rates are often linked to late patient presentation and shortages in infrastructure, funding, and skilled personnel. To prioritize prevention, President Bola Tinubu has approved the inclusion of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the national routine immunization schedule.

Additional efforts include strengthening hepatitis vaccinations, expanding cervical cancer screening, and integrating these services into primary healthcare facilities. The government has also commenced construction on six Cancer Centres of Excellence, with three already completed. Furthermore, the Blood Cancer Consortium was inaugurated to strengthen pathology laboratories across the country.