Nigeria Strengthens Cancer Care Partnership with China

On August 15, 2026, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced its commitment to enhancing cancer care and radiotherapy capacity in Nigeria during the LINK Global Summit on Innovation and Practice in Oncology in Beijing, China. Dr Salako emphasized Nigeria's proactive approach in oncology, including the establishment of the Radiotherapy Working Group within the China-Africa Hospital Alliance and the LINK Global Oncology Alliance, with Nigeria as a founding partner.

A strategic cooperation agreement was signed with LinaTech, a Chinese company specializing in advanced radiation therapy. In 2022, Nigeria reported approximately 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 cancer deaths, with breast, prostate, and cervical cancers being the most lethal.

Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's leadership, initiatives like the Renewed Hope Agenda and the introduction of the HPV vaccine in October 2023 aim to improve cancer prevention and treatment. The National Cancer Access Programme and other financial protection schemes are designed to enhance access to cancer care.