Cancer is now one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria, with public health experts and international health agencies warning that the country carries one of the heaviest cancer burdens in Africa. Medical studies and hospital records show that most Nigerians diagnosed with cancer arrive at health facilities at advanced stages, when treatment options are limited and survival chances are significantly reduced. Low screening rates, high out-of-pocket costs, and uneven access to care have combined to make cancer a quiet national crisis affecting families across the country.

World Cancer Day passed yesterday, but its message continues to echo in Nigeria, where cancer is still too often discovered late and treated at a cost many families cannot bear. This year’s global theme, United by Unique, puts a human face on the disease, reminding the world that while every cancer journey is deeply personal, survival ultimately depends on collective action.

At a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the day, President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Professor Abidemi Omonisi, spoke less about statistics and more about people. February fourth, he said, is not just a date to be marked, but a moment to reflect on the lived experiences of patients, survivors, caregivers, and families who carry the weight of loss.

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“Behind every statistic is a human being, a mother trying to stay strong for her children, a young man facing an unexpected diagnosis, a family navigating fear and uncertainty,” Omonisi said. “To every one of them, we say: you are seen, you are not alone, and your lives matter.”

Every cancer diagnosis arrives differently, shaped by age, income, location, and access to care. Yet outcomes are often influenced by the same systemic problems. Late diagnosis, limited screening, high out-of-pocket costs, stigma, and uneven access to quality treatment continue to define the cancer experience for many Nigerians.

“For too many Nigerians, the cancer journey is made harder than it should be,” Omonisi said. “Late diagnosis, limited access to screening, and unequal care are simply not acceptable.”

While Nigeria has recorded progress in recent years, including expanded cancer registries, increased awareness, and the establishment of national institutions focused on cancer research and treatment, Omonisi warned that progress on paper does not always translate to survival in real life. Oncology services remain overstretched, diagnostic capacity is limited in many areas, and trained health workers are still in short supply, particularly at the primary healthcare level, where early detection should begin.

“These are achievements worth acknowledging,” he said, “but they must not make us complacent.”

World Cancer Day activities across the country are designed to push the conversation beyond awareness and toward action. Screenings, public engagements, and patient support initiatives are aimed at reaching people who may never have considered cancer screening until it was already too late. The message is simple but urgent. Early detection saves lives, but only when it is accessible.

That urgency was echoed by the leadership of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment. Speaking through the institute’s Director of Cancer Prevention and Control, Dr Usman Mohamed Waziri, the Director General, Professor Usman Malami Aliyu, said the federal government is increasing its focus on cancer research, prevention, and screening.

“For the first time, the government is dedicating funds to building research capacity and strengthening data quality,” Aliyu said. “We are also working to expand cancer screening services and integrate them across levels of care.”

He added that the government plans to roll out national cancer screening clinics, offering services ranging from basic clinical examinations to more specialised screening procedures. Strengthening the National Cancer Health Fund, he noted, remains critical to improving access to care and addressing late presentation.

“Access to quality care and late presentation remain major barriers to improving outcomes,” Aliyu said.

Omonisi also challenged a persistent misconception that cancer is a disease Nigerians can afford to worry about later in life. Younger people are increasingly affected, making prevention, vaccination, and regular screening an urgent national priority rather than a personal choice.

“Let us build a Nigeria where a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence,” he said, “and where access to quality care does not depend on where you live or how much you earn.”

As World Cancer Day fades from public attention, its central question remains unanswered. Can Nigeria move from sympathy to systems that work, from awareness to early diagnosis, and from isolated efforts to collective responsibility? United by Unique is not just a slogan. It is a challenge to recognise every cancer journey as personal, while fixing the shared failures that continue to cost lives.

Meiza Nigeria