Oluwafunbi Bello 
Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria cancer support programme is expanding as the Federal Government announces increased financial assistance for cancer patients alongside new measures to make treatment more affordable through wider insurance coverage, local drug production and clinical research.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami, announced the interventions on Monday at the Best of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Africa 2026 conference in Abuja.
Malami says the government has strengthened efforts to reduce the financial burden of cancer care, acknowledging that many Nigerians continue to struggle with the high cost of treatment.
He explains that the Catastrophic Health Fund, managed by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), subsidises cancer prevention, diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for eligible patients, while the National Cancer Health Fund provides financial support for indigent patients.
“These are initiatives by the government to support the people of Nigeria suffering from this dreadful disease,” Malami says.
He adds that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain will promote local production of cancer medicines, reduce reliance on imports and improve access to affordable treatment nationwide.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Research and Innovation to the Minister of State for Health, Dr Lolade Adewale, says the government is expanding insurance coverage through the Cancer Health Fund and the Social Determinants of Health Fund.
She reveals that Nigeria has commenced three immunotherapy clinical trials for the first time, with medicines including Nivolumab and Keytruda provided free to eligible participants.
The Immediate Past President of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Dr Miriam Mutebi, calls for increased investment in cancer research across Africa, while ASCO Chief Medical Officer, Dr Julie Gralow, stresses the need for more locally generated evidence to improve cancer treatment.
The expanded Nigeria cancer support initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve access to quality cancer care and reduce cancer-related deaths across the country.
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Mirian Gom 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Korede Abdullah 