The Nigerian House of Representatives has sounded the alarm on the rising cancer epidemic sweeping across the country, calling for swift government action to address the soaring financial and health burden on citizens.
Speaking during a plenary session, a member of the House revealed that approximately 125,000 Nigerians were diagnosed with cancer in 2020 alone.
He described the situation as a growing health crisis that requires immediate national attention.
“The scourge of cancer is fast spreading amongst Nigerians,” the lawmaker said, noting that breast, prostate, and cervical cancers remain the most prevalent forms affecting the population.
Highlighting the prohibitive cost of cancer treatment, the legislator explained that managing the disease can range from tens of millions of naira to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
The actual cost depends on various factors, including the type and stage of cancer, treatment methods, and the patient’s health condition.
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He expressed deep concern over the financial toll the disease is taking on patients, pointing to a limited supply of cancer medications and inadequate radiation therapy infrastructure.
“For many, cancer is now seen as a disease for the rich or a death sentence,” he said. “But that is no longer the case—as both the poor and the wealthy are increasingly affected.”
The lawmaker stressed that the current cancer burden is straining the already underfunded health sector. He argued that public funding is the most sustainable and equitable solution to support cancer care in Nigeria, and urged the government to subsidise treatment and medications for low-income patients.
Following deliberations, the motion to address the cancer crisis was adopted through a voice vote presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
With rising cancer cases and treatment costs threatening to overwhelm families and health institutions alike, lawmakers say the time for decisive action is now.