Tinubu Approves N302.3bn National Cancer Institute to End Medical Tourism Crisis
ABUJA—In a major boost to Nigeria’s struggling cancer care system, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the design, construction, furnishing, equipping, and commissioning of a flagship National Cancer Institute at a cost of approximately N302.3 billion.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, described the approval as a clear demonstration of the President’s commitment to the health and well-being of Nigerians.
The announcement was first made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, during last week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The institute is expected to be completed within 36 months and will serve as a state-of-the-art centre for cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, innovation, and capacity building.
“This project will no doubt make Nigeria the centre of attraction in terms of sophisticated cancer care and research in Africa and the world at large,” Prof. Aliyu said in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday. “The facility will strengthen cancer research, treatment, innovation, and capacity building and also provide world-class cancer services in Nigeria.”
For years, cancer has remained a nightmare for many Nigerian families. Limited access to early diagnosis and advanced treatment has forced thousands of patients to seek care abroad, draining the country of millions of dollars annually in medical tourism.
Prof. Aliyu noted that successive governments had failed to adequately tackle the shortage of modern facilities, leaving many patients diagnosed too late or unable to afford care.
The new National Cancer Institute is expected to reverse that trend. Officials say it will drastically reduce the number of Nigerians traveling overseas for treatment while positioning the country as a preferred destination for cancer care and research across Africa.
This, they argue, will not only save foreign exchange but also generate new revenue by attracting patients and experts from neighboring countries.
Beyond treatment, the facility is designed to become a regional hub for training and retraining oncology specialists, driving innovative research and fostering collaboration with leading institutions within Nigeria and globally.
It will also support evidence-based policymaking and the development of highly skilled cancer care professionals.
Prof. Aliyu linked the approval to other recent gains under the Tinubu administration, including the upgrading of cancer centres in Katsina, Benin and Enugu, which have already been completed.
He specifically praised the strategic leadership of Prof. Pate and the persistent advocacy of the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, for helping turn the long-standing vision into reality.
“Even though the establishment of NICRAT three years ago brought the country to the global limelight in the fight against cancer, the approval of this National Cancer Institute with state-of-the-art equipment will give Nigeria more visibility and dignity among the comity of nations,” the NICRAT boss added.
The Management and staff of NICRAT have pledged to work diligently to ensure the project delivers on the promise of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
For countless Nigerian families who have watched loved ones battle cancer with limited local options, the approval offers a long-awaited ray of hope that quality care may finally become available at home.
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