Government partners with INNOVA to curb rising cancer rates in Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has highlighted the need to collaborate with the private sector to find lasting solutions to the country’s cancer crisis.

Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja during a two‑day Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building programme organised by Innova Healthcare Nigeria Ltd. The event, themed “Innova Healthcare Nigeria – Bringing the Total Oncology Solution,” brought together key actors in the fight against cancer.

Represented by Dr. Uche Nwokwu, National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme, the minister stressed that the government could not tackle the problem alone and that partnership was essential for greater impact.

According to Salako, partnerships are central to achieving Nigeria’s cancer control targets, which aim for total eradication of the disease.

“We also rely on collaborations with our partners to improve access to cancer care in Nigeria,” he said.

The minister explained that the National Cancer Control Plan seeks to reduce Nigeria’s cancer burden by 50 percent by 2030 through enhanced screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship interventions.

He noted that the Cancer Access Partnership Programme, a federal initiative, is currently supplying anti‑cancer medicines at subsidised rates in more than 24 hospitals nationwide, thereby enabling low‑income patients to access essential care.

“The problem is not just treatment. Some patients struggle with transportation, accommodation and feeding costs, which significantly increase the burden of care,” Salako added.

Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director‑General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), said the private sector remains indispensable for strengthening healthcare systems, expanding access to life‑saving technologies and reducing Nigeria’s cancer burden.

He argued that meaningful progress in cancer control requires strategic partnerships, innovation and sustained investments across the entire cancer care continuum.

“Today’s activities give an insight into what Innova is doing. Indirectly, it is a kind of human resource development and assistance to the country in strengthening the operational capability of doctors,” Aliyu said.

Aliyu noted that Public‑Private Partnerships (PPP) are increasingly driving improvements in radiotherapy services, with many operational cancer centres now running through such collaborations. He said nearly half of the radiotherapy centres currently serving Nigerian patients are operated via PPP arrangements.

He added that NICRAT, through the Nigeria Cancer Access Partnership (NCAP) and the National Cancer Health Fund (NCHF), has supported more than 10,000 Nigerians with cancer treatment, diagnostics and essential medicines.

Mr. Wong Kai Yan, Business Development Director of Innova Healthcare Nigeria Ltd., said the company is committed to improving cancer treatment outcomes and bridging critical gaps in oncology care.

Yan pointed out that Nigeria faces shortages in radiotherapy equipment and specialised personnel, including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, oncology nurses and radiation therapists.

“We are here to bridge the two countries together, to bridge the two worlds together, to make sure we are able to deliver healthcare much better,” he said.

He said Innova is exploring partnerships that would facilitate technology transfer, knowledge exchange and workforce development between Nigeria and Singapore.

Yan added that the company intends to provide end‑to‑end oncology solutions, including infrastructure development, equipment installation and professional training.

Mr. Ikenna Njoku, Chief Financial Officer, said the initiative would help reduce medical tourism and make cancer treatment more affordable for Nigerians.

“What Innova has started is something that has been bothering Nigerians over the years. Medical tourism is going to reduce drastically and bring treatment costs to a level many Nigerians can afford,” he stressed.

Dr. Chinedu Aruah, Senior Consultant, Radiation and Clinical Oncologist at the National Hospital Abuja, said ongoing government efforts to strengthen oncology workforce capacity would improve cancer care delivery.

“A lot of people are willing to work, but incentives elsewhere are often better. As government improves the status of the workforce, things are going to take better shape,” he said.

Aruah described the engagement as a positive development that would improve access to radiotherapy services and help reduce treatment delays for cancer patients.