Chukwu Obinna 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the Innovative Cancer Medicines Demonstration Project, marking a historic moment in the country’s cancer care efforts with the highest-ever budgetary allocation for oncology infrastructure in the 2025 national budget.
Speaking at the National Hospital, Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the project represents a “pioneering step toward equitable cancer treatment and research access.”
“Enrolling our first patient into a world-class clinical study symbolises hope,” Salako said. “It shows that patients in developing countries no longer have to wait decades for lifesaving treatments.”
The project includes the use of nivolumab, an immunotherapy that harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It brings together key partners: the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), and Roche.
Salako added that colorectal cancer, now Nigeria’s second most common cancer in men, has tripled in incidence over four decades, causing about 5,900 deaths annually due to late diagnosis.
“This government has prioritised prevention, early detection, and affordable treatment,” he noted, referencing Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda.
The project also supports the National Cancer Control Plan, advancing research capacity and access to innovative medicine in low-resource settings.
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