The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to subsidise cancer medications and treatments, provide free cancer screening services, and significantly increase the number of treatment centres and radiotherapy machines across the country.
The resolution was passed during Wednesday’s plenary session following the adoption of a motion moved by Aderemi Oseni, a lawmaker representing Oyo State.
In his motion, Oseni underscored the urgent need for government intervention, describing cancer as a growing public health crisis in Nigeria. He noted that the high cost of treatment, coupled with the limited availability of cancer care infrastructure, has placed a heavy financial burden on patients, especially those from low-income backgrounds.
“It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the welfare and well-being of its citizens,” Oseni stated. “The scourge of cancer is spreading rapidly in Nigeria, and reports show that in 2020 alone, approximately 125,000 Nigerians were diagnosed with the disease.”
He identified breast, prostate, and cervical cancers as the most prevalent in the country and warned that the complex and expensive nature of cancer treatment along with the shortage of radiotherapy machines has created a perception that cancer is a disease only the wealthy can afford to fight.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, Oseni reminded the chamber that at least 40 people are diagnosed with cancer every minute worldwide, underscoring the need for urgent action.
He called on the federal government to step in by subsidising the cost of cancer medications and treatments, particularly for indigent patients, and by investing in more diagnostic and treatment infrastructure to make care more accessible nationwide.
The motion was adopted following a voice vote conducted by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
