For Nigeria’s cancer patients, it’s more than a disease

For Nigerian families battling cancer, government’s announcement of subsidised treatment offered a glimmer of hope. But for those who have already lost loved ones to the disease, the questions remain: Where are the subsidised treatment centres? Did the financial support reach the patients who needed it? Weekend Trust highlights the issues.

While the federal government and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) have introduced measures aimed at reducing the cost of cancer treatment, families who spoke to Weekend Trust said they bore the cost of treatment largely through personal savings, loans, contributions from relatives, and in some cases, the sale of property.

None of the families interviewed for this report said they benefitted from the cancer-treatment subsidy during the illnesses of their loved ones.

Nigeria records approximately 127,000 new cancer cases annually, with about 80,000 deaths, according to figures previously given by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

Globally, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

But behind the statistics are families confronted with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, scans, drugs, transportation, accommodation and other expenses that can stretch household finances to breaking point.

‘We borrowed for treatment’

Innocent Favour, who lost her mother to breast cancer, noted that her family didn’t benefit from any government subsidy during her mother’s treatment. Instead, the family exhausted its savings before turning to relatives and other sources of assistance.

“At the beginning, we thought we could handle it. We constantly thought about the next hospital appointment and medications. After some months, we realised that the money was depleting faster than we could replace it,” she recalled.

She said the family eventually began borrowing money and seeking assistance from relatives.

“We borrowed from people. We asked family members for help. There were times we were not even thinking about anything else apart from where the next money for treatment would come from,” she revealed.

Favour said the financial strain compounded the emotional pain of watching her mother battle the disease.

“You are watching your mother suffer, and at the same time, you are calculating money in your head. You want to do everything possible to save her, but you also know that you have limited resources.

“After she died, the bills didn’t disappear; we still had debts to settle. That was one of the hardest parts for us,” she lamented.

Also, Johnson, whose father died after battling prostate cancer, said his family did not benefit from any cancer-treatment subsidy.

He said the family had to continually raise money for tests, medicines and other aspects of treatment.

“Every time the doctor said we needed to do another test or buy another medication, we tried to find the money. At first, we were optimistic. We believed that if we continued the treatment, he would get better,” Johnson said.

But as his father’s condition worsened, so did the financial demands.

“There were times we had to sell things. You don’t want to sell your property or belongings, but when somebody you love is lying in a hospital and needs treatment, you start asking yourself what is more important,” he said.

Johnson said relatives and friends contributed what they could, but the cost remained overwhelming.

“Everybody was contributing. My brothers were contributing, relatives were contributing, friends were helping, but the expenses kept coming. Before then, cancer was just a disease we heard about. We did not understand what it could do to a family. It can consume your money, your time and your emotions,” he added.

Ojo Mosunmola, who lost an elder sister to cervical cancer, said her late sister didn’t benefit from the government cancer-treatment subsidy during her illness.

She said the financial responsibility gradually shifted to relatives after her sister became too ill to continue working.

“She was working before the sickness became serious. When she could no longer work, somebody had to take responsibility for her treatment and other medications,” Mosunmola said.

The family also had to provide money for food and transportation while meeting the cost of medical care.

“There were days we were hopeful and there were days we were scared. You don’t want to tell the person who is sick that you don’t have money. You don’t want them to lose hope,” she said.

“The painful thing is that after all the money, sacrifices and prayers, we still lost her. You keep asking yourself if there was something else you could have done,” she lamented.

Another woman who identified herself as Mrs Abudullahi, whose husband died from cancer, said her family also didn’t benefit from the subsidy. Instead, she said the family’s savings were gradually depleted as she struggled to combine care-giving with the financial needs of the household.

“I couldn’t concentrate on my work the way I used to as I was constantly moving between home and the hospital. At the same time, the family needed money,” she told Weekend Trust.

She noted that their savings eventually ran out: “The savings disappeared. Whatever we had put aside was going into treatment. When that finished, we started asking people for help.”

She said the cost of cancer care went beyond chemotherapy, surgery or hospital bills.

“People talk about chemotherapy and surgery, but there are many other expenses. You pay for transportation, food, you sometimes need accommodation, and you buy medications that may not be available at the hospital.”

She said one of the most difficult experiences was watching her husband deteriorate while struggling to find money for his care.

“There were moments when I cried because I didn’t know where the next money would come from. But when I went back to him, I had to pretend that everything would be fine,” she said.

Her husband eventually died.

“I still think about those days. The sickness took him from me, but the financial struggle also changed the whole family,” she added.

Madam Florence, who lost her son to cancer, said her family also didn’t benefit from the subsidy during his treatment.

“We used our savings. His siblings, relatives and friends contributed and helped. But there was always another bill to be paid,” she noted.

She said the family sometimes had to postpone other needs to pay for treatment.

“When you have limited money, you begin to prioritise. If there is money, you use it for medications while other things wait,” she said.

But despite the sacrifices, the family eventually lost him.

“We did everything we could. We didn’t abandon him. We kept looking for money for treatment, but we lost him,” she also lamented.

She said the financial burden was particularly painful because it came at a time when the family was already dealing with the emotional distress of the illness.

“The worst part was seeing my child in pain and knowing that you needed money for the next stage of treatment. No parent wants to be in that position,” she noted.

Patients search for subsidised care

In Benue State, cancer patients are not benefitting from the cancer subsidy programme initiated by the Federal Government’s Cancer Health Fund (CHF).

An indigent cancer patient, Mary Obiabo, told Weekend Trust that the inability to afford hospital treatment forced her to rely on traditional remedies.

Patients in rural communities of the state, such as Obiabo, rely on herbal remedies for relief from either breast or cervical cancer, while their male counterparts battling prostate cancer seek herbal or medical services elsewhere rather than government facilities.

For a 63-year-old Enokela Eche, a prostate cancer patient, as a result of cost, access to treatment remains limited.

According to Eche, he visits a private clinic in Makurdi only once in eight months.

“I don’t have the financial means to foot my bills. The last time I visited a private clinic was through the help of a wealthy individual who paid over N600,000 for my treatment within a period.

“I am back home. I have made several enquiries, but there is no hope in sight for subsidised treatment,” Eche said.

A radiation oncologist in the state, Dr Samuel Otene, who corroborated Eche’s experience, said the subsidised treatment available in Benue medical facilities was only for those registered with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

Otene said the Federal Government’s Cancer Health Fund was yet to scale up its programme in Benue to enable indigent patients benefit from it.

“For now, only the six selected hospitals in the country are benefitting from the programme. The only scheme we have in Benue State now is the NHIA-Roche Pharmaceutical Company cost-sharing programme for cancer patients.

“For those whose treatment costs N600,000 to over N1 million, that is N600,000 per cycle every three months within a year, Roche covers 50 per cent of the cost, while the NHIA takes 30 per cent and the patient bears the remaining 20 per cent,” he said.

The oncologist maintained that the arrangement covered only the cost of drugs produced by Roche under the medical programme.

Otenene also explained in an interview with Weekend Trust in Makurdi that inadequate equipment remained a major challenge to effective cancer care in the state; a situation he said prompted Governor Hyacinth Alia to initiate the construction of a cancer centre last year.

He said cancer management involved four major components, including chemotherapy, surgery and other supportive care, noting that the only treatment option unavailable in Benue is radiotherapy.

“Radiotherapy is the only component of cancer treatment we can’t currently provide in Benue. As a result, patients travel as far as Kano, Lagos and other states for radiotherapy, a process that can take between five and seven weeks,” he said.

The oncologist disclosed that plans to commence full cancer treatment services in the state had been stalled by delays in completing the cancer centre project.

Otene, a former state chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), revealed that about 9 oncology nurses had already been trained in Abuja in anticipation of the centre’s take-off, but had since returned to their routine duties because of the delay.

“The training was timed such that by the time they returned, the cancer centre would be operational. Unfortunately, the centre is not ready,” he added.

He said the foundation of the cancer centre had been completed, stressing the need for the building and installation of equipment to progress simultaneously.

However, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services in the state, Dr Paul Ogwuche, said the Governor Hyacinth Alia administration recognised cancer care as an important component of its health sector priorities and was taking concrete steps to strengthen the entire cancer-care pathway in the state.

“At present, Benue doesn’t have a fully operational, comprehensive cancer treatment centre offering the complete range of oncology services, particularly radiotherapy. However, cancer diagnosis and aspects of treatment are being provided through our tertiary institutions, including the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), where we have diagnostic capacity, such as mammography, CT, MRI and other relevant services.

“More importantly, the state government has made a major commitment towards establishing a dedicated Cancer Treatment Centre at the BSUTH. Governor Alia committed N2 billion towards the establishment of the centre in 2024. The project is part of the broader transformation of the BSUTH into a major referral and specialist-care hub for Benue and the North-Central region,” he said.

Ogwuche, however, admitted that, like most states in Nigeria, Benue still had significant gaps in specialised oncology manpower.

“We do not yet have the level of oncology workforce and radiotherapy infrastructure required to meet the state’s full cancer-care needs.

“In particular, Benue does not currently have an operational radiotherapy machine providing routine radiotherapy services. Consequently, patients requiring radiotherapy are referred to appropriate functional centres outside the state. This is precisely why the development of the cancer centre at the BSUTH is important.

“We want to move from a situation where patients have to travel outside Benue for critical aspects of cancer treatment to one where comprehensive cancer care is progressively available within the state,” the commissioner said.

He explained that the cancer centre project was being pursued as part of the state government’s investment in expanding specialised services at the BSUTH.

According to him, the governor’s N2 billion commitment provided the foundation for the development of the centre, with the intention of establishing a modern oncology facility capable of serving Benue and neighbouring states.

“We are approaching this as a comprehensive service rather than simply putting a building in place. It requires infrastructure, radiotherapy equipment, chemotherapy services, diagnostics, oncology manpower, maintenance systems and sustainable financing. The federal government is also expanding national radiotherapy capacity, including the planned procurement and installation of additional linear accelerators between 2026 and 2028.

“We are, therefore, working towards a stronger cancer-care system built around prevention, early detection, diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, palliative care, trained manpower and sustainable financing,” Ogwuche said.

Funding shortfall stalls free treatment programme

While cancer patients in Benue are still waiting for the Federal Government’s Cancer Health Fund to reach the state, patients enrolled in the federal free treatment programme at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria, are facing another challenge: inadequate funding.

An official at the cancer centre of the hospital Shika who sought anonymity said although the government had introduced initiatives to subsidise cancer treatment, insufficient funding affected the enrolment of new beneficiaries.

According to the official, the federal government currently provides free treatment for three major cancers: breast and cervical cancers in women and prostate cancer in men.

He explained that certified patients with any of the three cancers could access treatment free of charge at hospitals covered by the programme

“For patients with breast and cervical cancers, a wallet is opened through the portal; and a token of N2 million is credited to the wallet to cover drugs, medication and consumables used during treatment.

“If the N2 million is exhausted, there is provision for an additional N1 million,” he said.

Mr Julius Nbana, a patient who visits the centre, said he accessed free drugs and medications until recently when the situation began to deteriorate.

“I was made to understand that non-release of budgetary provision contributed to non-provision of adequate free services to them.

“I believe the major challenge was funding, particularly for new patients, unlike people like me who had enjoyed the free treatment for some period of time,” he said.

Kano patients raise concern

In Kano State, cancer patients have raised concern over the cost of treatment at the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre (KCTC), describing the facility as unaffordable for ordinary citizens.

Ambassador Halisa Muhammad, a breast cancer survivor and advocate for cancer awareness, told Weekend Trust that while the KCTC remains functional, its services are largely out of reach for many patients.

According to her, the centre, which operates as a private organisation, focuses mainly on surgery and chemotherapy.

She said radiation therapy at the facility would cost between N1.4 million and N1.7 million, while chemotherapy cycles began at N150,000, depending on the type of cancer and drugs required.

“The biggest challenge is not even treatment but diagnosis. Many patients cannot afford the tests needed to confirm cancer before treatment begins. Sometimes, it costs up to N400,000, just to determine the type of cancer,” she said.

Halisa explained that the financial burden forced some patients to abandon treatment midway or avoid seeking care altogether.

She noted that alternatives exist in government hospitals, such as Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, although she said they faced their own limitations.

“In the AKTH, for instance, there is only one oncology specialist called Dr Mustapha, while the state hospitals provide only surgical services without chemotherapy or advanced diagnostic capacity,” she added.

She stressed that lack of affordable and comprehensive cancer care in Kano was worsening the plight of patients, many of who even struggle to pay for basic tests.

She called for urgent government’s intervention to subsidise cancer treatment and expand oncology services in public hospitals, saying this would ease the burden on patients and reduce reliance on costly private centres like the KCTC.

Also, Musa Sani Aliyu of the Cancer Care Support and Navigation Initiative (CCSNI) attributed the high cost of services at the centre to ownership structure.

He explained that the centre operated under a public-private partnership arrangement, with the government and private sector sharing ownership.

According to him, the arrangement makes treatment of the disease very difficult for patients in the state.

Katsina centre offers specialised treatment

Interestingly, in Katsina State, cancer patients have access to a major treatment centre at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina (FTHK), where specialised services are being provided.

The oncology centre, commissioned in July 2025, was established as part of federal government’s efforts to expand access to cancer diagnosis and treatment across the country.

The centre is equipped with a TrueBeam linear accelerator for advanced radiotherapy, a brachytherapy machine and a 64-slice CT simulator for treatment planning.

It also has a 20-bed chemotherapy suite, including private suites, as well as facilities for the preparation of chemotherapy drugs.

Sources at the centre told Weekend Trust that it provides cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy services to patients.

One of the sources also confirmed that the FTHK is among the facilities covered by the federal government’s cancer-support programme, under which eligible low-income patients can receive radiotherapy subsidies of up to N400,000.

However, the source clarified that the N400,000 should not be interpreted as a blanket cash payment to every cancer patient.

According to the source, eligibility for the support and the amount of assistance provided depend on the patient’s circumstances, treatment requirements and associated costs.

Prominent deaths, familiar struggles

The financial burden of cancer is not limited to low-income households.

One recent case that drew public attention was that of a veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.

In August 2026, his daughters publicly disclosed that the actor was battling stage-four cancer and sought help and recommendations regarding treatment options.

Reports said the family was looking for further medical options after being told that chemotherapy could no longer continue.

However, claims that hospitals had “refused to treat” him require caution, as advanced cancer can involve situations in which particular treatments are no longer considered beneficial, and care may shift towards palliative management.

Other prominent cancer cases have similarly kept the disease in the public conversation.

Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, was reported to have died in May 2026 at the age of 40 following complications associated with advanced metastatic kidney cancer, according to reports based on statements from his family.

A former presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, died in March 2025 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Another case that generated public discussion about the financial demands of cancer was that of Mensah Omolola, popularly known as Aunty Esther, a breast-cancer patient who died in December 2025.

Before her death, Nigerians reportedly raised more than N30 million to support her medical care.

The case also generated public discussion over her decision to decline blood transfusion on religious grounds.

A veteran actor, Tom Njemanze, also died in July 2025 after reportedly battling prostate cancer.

Similarly, a veteran broadcaster and actor, Sadiq Daba, died in March 2021 following a battle with cancer.

Where is the subsidy?

The experiences of the families and patients raise questions about the visibility and accessibility of government-backed financial support for cancer patients.

The NHIA has introduced interventions aimed at reducing the financial burden of cancer care and has said its coverage includes a range of diagnostic and treatment services.

The authority has also announced support for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy as part of efforts to make treatment more affordable.

The intervention was designed to address the high cost of cancer treatment, particularly radiotherapy, which can be financially prohibitive for many families.

The NHIA has also said cancer-related services available under its insurance programmes include diagnostic procedures such as MRI and CT scans, mammography, ultrasound, histology, endoscopy and tumour-marker tests.

The Cancer Health Fund (CHF) was also initiated by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with a private sector-led coalition to help low-income and poor Nigerians pay for standard cancer care.

But for patients who have never encountered the scheme, the central issue is whether they know where to go, whether their treatment facility participates, what services are covered, and how much of the bill the government will actually bear.

The experiences from Benue, Zaria, Kano and Katsina illustrate the different realities facing patients across the country.

In Benue, the Cancer Health Fund is yet to be scaled up, while the state is still developing a comprehensive centre with radiotherapy capacity.

In Zaria, an existing federal programme provides free treatment for selected cancers, but an official said funding shortages had affected the enrolment of new beneficiaries.

In Kano, patients have access to a functioning cancer treatment centre, but the cost of treatment remains a major concern, with alternatives in public hospitals also facing limitations.

In Katsina, meanwhile, the Federal Teaching Hospital has a specialised oncology centre equipped for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, screening and diagnosis, while eligible low-income patients can receive radiotherapy subsidies of up to N400,000 under the federal cancer-support programme.

When Weekend Trust visited the Oncology Department of the National Hospital, Abuja on Wednesday, our reporter was informed that the head of the unit, Dr Uba Fatima, was not in office.

However, a staff member of the department said she was not aware of any ongoing subsidy programme.

The response could not independently establish whether the National Hospital participates in any NHIA cancer programme, but it underscores the information challenge confronting patients who may need to establish their eligibility and identify participating facilities before commencing treatment.

Few specialists, limited access

The financial burden of cancer care is compounded by shortages of specialised personnel and treatment infrastructure.

A study published in JCO Global Oncology found that Nigeria had about 80 clinical oncologists caring for more than 120,000 cancer patients.

The researchers also identified the migration of oncology specialists to higher-income countries as a major challenge to Nigeria’s cancer-care capacity.

Nigeria’s radiotherapy and oncology services are concentrated in a relatively limited number of specialised facilities.

Among the facilities providing cancer treatment are Federal Medical Centre, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City; National Hospital, Abuja; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; Federal Medical Centre, Gombe; Kano Cancer Treatment Centre, and the University of Jos Teaching Hospital.

It was gathered that there are currently between 10 and 15 functional radiotherapy machines actively working across the country.

A clinical oncologist, Dr Omolola Salako, said the cost of cancer treatment was a major reason some patients abandon care.

She estimated that treatment could cost between N10 million and N60 million, depending on the type of cancer and the treatment required.

“Where treatment is costing from N10 million, N15 million to 60 million, in reality, many cancer patients are presenting to the hospital early, but they are dropping out of treatment,” she said.

Salako said Nigeria had several cancer-treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy.

“There are about six treatment modalities: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy. We have health insurance, but very few Nigerians are health-insured. Then there’s a huge cap on cancer care,” she said.

She said financial protection would be important if patients were to complete treatment once they were diagnosed.

Early detection critical

Salako also stressed the importance of early detection, saying some cancers could be prevented while others could be detected and treated before they become advanced.

“Forty per cent of cancers can be prevented. Some cannot be prevented but we can detect them early, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer,” she said.

She identified public education as an important part of the response, urging Nigerians to seek medical attention when symptoms persist, and to undergo appropriate screening.

A radiation oncologist, Dr Halima Mustapha, also expressed concern about late presentation.

According to her, about 70 per cent of her patients are diagnosed at stages three or four.

“We are wondering and creating more awareness for people, and that’s why they are coming in; or are the numbers just increasing.

“It is really heartbreaking, especially at the later stages: what do you do for them? And they ask you: What do I do?”

Mustapha said cancer prevention should not be restricted to hospitals, but should include public education and efforts to reduce avoidable risk factors.

What Nigerians consume

The issue of lifestyle also featured in discussions with experts.

Dr Godwin Ekukwe warned that unhealthy diets, obesity, uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes could place prolonged strain on the kidneys and increase the risk of kidney disease and kidney failure.

“Nigerians should adopt healthier lifestyles, reduce excessive salt intake, maintain healthy body weight, exercise regularly and avoid self-medication, particularly indiscriminate use of medicines that could damage the kidneys,” Ekukwe said.

He also advised people living with hypertension or diabetes to ensure that the conditions are properly controlled, noting that kidney disease can develop without obvious symptoms in its early stages.

However, experts caution against attributing cancer to particular foods alone, noting that cancer has multiple risk factors and that prevention requires a broader public-health approach.

Financial protection and access

The Head of Clinical and Radiation Oncology, Dr Muhammad Yaqub Habeebu, said improving cancer outcomes would require greater awareness, early screening and stronger financial protection for patients.

He said the stage at which a patient presents remained one of the most important factors determining treatment outcomes.

“So, what is the most important factor in closing the gap? It is awareness because when you are aware of cancer and early screening, the treatment, no matter what technology you have available, the most important thing that influences the outcome of the treatment is the stage of presentation,” he said.

Habeebu also identified the cost of diagnosis and treatment as a factor that could contribute to delays in accessing care.

“There is also a need to have payment for cancer treatment put in health insurance because one of the factors that cause delay in presentation is cost of diagnosis, treatment and cost of getting to the facilities,” he said.

He called for the expansion of cancer-treatment facilities across the country’s geopolitical zones and greater insurance coverage.

N302.3bn national cancer institute

The federal government has approved N302.3 billion for the establishment of a national cancer institute.

The approval covers the design, construction, furnishing, equipping, supervision and commissioning of the facility under the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).

Pate announced the approval following a Federal Executive Council meeting in August 2026.

The project is expected to be completed within 36 months.

The NICRAT director-general, Prof Usman Malami Aliyu, said the facility would strengthen cancer research, treatment, innovation and professional training.

He said it would also help to reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for specialised cancer treatment.

“Chief among the benefits is that the project will drastically reduce medical tourism by Nigerians affected by cancer,” Malami said.

He said the institute would also serve as a centre for training and retraining cancer specialists and researchers.

“The institute will also be a hub and reference point for the training and retraining of oncology experts and researchers across Africa,” he said.

Turai Yar’adua Cancer Centre remains inactive, years after launch

While new investments are being announced, questions remain over existing cancer infrastructure.

The International Cancer Centre in Abuja, associated with former First Lady Turai Yar’Adua, has remained largely inactive years after the project was unveiled.

The centre was conceived as a major health care project intended to expand access to specialised cancer treatment in Nigeria.

The project was reportedly inspired by Turai Yar’adua’s visit to the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas, United States in 2008.

A fundraising event for the project was held in Abuja in July 2009, with reports at the time showing that pledges of N6.8 billion were made towards its development.

More than a decade later, however, the facility has not emerged as the fully functioning cancer-treatment centre envisaged when the project was announced.

During a visit to the centre, Weekend Trust found the premises largely deserted, with weeds and grasses visible around parts of the facility.

Attempts to obtain further information from officials at the facility were unsuccessful as no official was available to speak with the reporter at the time of the visit.

Beyond announcements

For cancer patients and their families, the debate is ultimately about more than the amount of money the government says it is making available. It is about whether a patient can walk into a treatment centre, establish eligibility, obtain the required service and receive financial relief before the cost forces them to stop treatment.

The experiences of patients across Benue, Zaria, Kano and Katsina show that access to cancer support differs considerably from one location to another. While some facilities have specialised equipment and government-backed subsidies, others are still waiting for comprehensive services, while funding shortages and treatment costs continue to limit access.

Attempts to get the Ministry of Health’s reaction were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Contributions by Seun Adeuyi (Abuja), Hope Abah (Makurdi), Sani Ibrahim Paki (Kano), Ibrahim Musa Giginyu (Katsina) & Abubakar Sadiq Mohd (Zaria)