Health Minister Muhammad Pate Highlights Alarming Cancer Death Toll in Nigeria

 Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate, delivered a sobering revelation on July 24, 2025, during the launch of the National Cancer Control Plan in Abuja, stating that cancer claims approximately 80,000 lives annually across the country. 

This figure, derived from the National Health Management Information System (NHMIS), represents a 20% increase from the 66,000 deaths reported in 2020, reflecting both improved data collection and a rising incidence rate. Pate identified breast, cervical, and prostate cancers as the primary contributors, attributing the high mortality to late diagnoses—often at stage III or IV—due to the scarcity of screening facilities, with only 15 operational cancer centers serving a population exceeding 200 million.

The minister outlined a comprehensive five-year strategy requiring ₦100 billion to expand infrastructure, train 1,000 oncologists, and establish mobile screening units in rural areas where 60% of Nigerians reside. He cited a 2024 World Health Organization report noting that Nigeria’s cancer treatment capacity lags 40% behind regional averages. 

Critics, including health advocates, caution that the 80,000 figure may underrepresent the true toll due to underreporting in remote regions, where access to healthcare is limited, and suggest the actual number could approach 100,000. The narrative of a public health crisis is compelling, driving urgent calls for action, but its success will depend on securing funding and overcoming logistical barriers in a strained healthcare system.