By Emmanuel Emeka
Nigeria records about 128,000 new cancer cases annually, but growing insecurity and conflict are increasingly preventing vulnerable communities from accessing early diagnosis and lifesaving treatment, the Imo State First Lady and Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, has said.
Uzodimma made this known on Tuesday while speaking at the World Cancer Day Symposium organised by Project PINK BLUE, Health & Psychological Trust Centre, where stakeholders examined how violence, displacement and fragile health systems are worsening cancer outcomes in the country.
She said the cancer burden continues to place enormous strain on individuals, families and the healthcare system. According to her, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria, while prostate cancer leads among men.
Uzodimma noted that many of the thousands of deaths recorded yearly could be avoided if cancers are detected early and treatment is not disrupted.
She warned that insecurity has become a major barrier to care, particularly in conflict-affected areas where health facilities have been shut down and medical personnel forced to flee due to attacks, kidnappings and killings.
She also cited prolonged sit-at-home orders in parts of the South East as contributing to delayed chemotherapy sessions, missed follow-up visits and interrupted palliative care.
“These are not just statistics. They are mothers, fathers and children whose lives are cut short because care is unavailable or unsafe to access,” she said.
As chairperson of FLAC, Uzodimma explained that the coalition, established in 2015, has worked to close gaps in Nigeria’s cancer care continuum through awareness campaigns, screening programmes, patient support initiatives and policy advocacy.
She disclosed that since 2025, FLAC has strengthened partnerships with federal and state governments, private sector actors and international development partners to improve cancer prevention, research and treatment.
Among the collaborations, she highlighted joint efforts with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), the World Health Organisation and civil society organisations to advance cervical cancer elimination through HPV vaccination and mass screening.
However, she cautioned that gains recorded in cancer control are being undermined by persistent conflict in the North East, North West and parts of the South East, where disrupted supply chains, displacement and poverty are pushing patients toward late-stage presentation.
Uzodimma called for the deployment of mobile clinics, improved protection for health workers, safe corridors for medical supplies and increased funding for the National Cancer Health Fund.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Aliyu Malami, represented by the Director of Clinical Services, Prof. Musa Ali-Gombe, identified weak coordination, limited decentralisation and inadequate funding as major challenges confronting cancer control in Nigeria.
Ali-Gombe said that although many actors are involved in cancer-related activities, the absence of a strong coordinating centre has led to duplication of efforts and service gaps.
He noted that cancer services remain concentrated in major cities, leaving rural and conflict-affected communities with limited access to prevention, screening and early diagnosis.
He said the establishment of NICRAT marked a turning point, as Nigeria now has a dedicated agency and budget line for cancer control for the first time.
According to him, funding for cancer care has increased steadily since 2020, though it remains insufficient to meet national needs.
Ali-Gombe disclosed that NICRAT has strengthened cancer registries across the six geopolitical zones to enhance data collection and evidence-based planning, adding that Nigeria has produced a draft national cancer incidence report for the first time.
On treatment access, he explained that the National Cancer Health Fund currently provides free treatment for breast, cervical and prostate cancers in designated centres of excellence across the six geopolitical zones.
He added that the programme is being piloted due to funding and specialist constraints, but plans are underway to expand both the number of centres and the cancers covered.
Ali-Gombe stressed the need to integrate cancer care into national security and humanitarian response plans, noting that displaced persons and conflict-affected populations require uninterrupted treatment for chronic conditions.
Former Senator representing Abia North and sponsor of the bill that established NICRAT, Mao Ohuabunwa, described cancer as a national emergency requiring sustained political commitment.
He said insecurity has compounded existing challenges, making it more difficult for patients in vulnerable areas to access screening and treatment.
Ohuabunwa urged the National Assembly, the executive arm of government, civil society and development partners to strengthen funding, oversight and implementation of cancer control programmes.
Earlier, Project PINK BLUE Senior Finance and Administration Officer Lead, Godwin Kagior, said the symposium was convened to move stakeholders from discussion to concrete action.
He described cancer as both a medical and social justice issue, particularly in contexts of conflict, displacement and poverty.
Kagior noted that Project PINK BLUE, established in 2014, has spent over a decade on cancer awareness, advocacy, patient navigation, research, oncology training, psychological support and free screening.
He urged participants to ensure that the outcomes of the symposium translate into practical recommendations and measurable action.
“Behind every statistic is a human life whose chance of survival depends on the systems we build,” he said.
Cancer survivors and advocates at the event also shared personal experiences of misdiagnosis and delayed presentation, reinforcing calls for cancer care to be treated as a national emergency and fully integrated into Nigeria’s health, security and humanitarian response frameworks.
