Nigeria faces an increase in cancer burden on the risk of lifestyle

Medical professionals have increased concerns about the growing Nigerian cancer crisis, warning that the country is ready to witness a significant increase in cases diagnosed in the coming years.

The increase, they argue, will be encouraged not only by improving the diagnostic system and supervision but also by bringing up a description of risk factors related to lifestyle such as an unhealthy diet, the use of tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivation.

The warning arose when the federal government continued efforts to improve the country’s cancer treatment infrastructure. In the inauguration of the newly built oncology center at the Federal Hospital, Katsina, the coordinated Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, on Thursday revealed that Nigeria currently records around 127,000 new cancer cases every year, with around 80,000 deaths.

“This is a burden,” Pate said. “Non -communicable diseases such as cancer quickly increase health threats in Nigeria. They not only cause great suffering but also place severe financial victims in affected families.”

As part of the new hope agenda of the Tinubu Bola President, the Minister reiterated the government’s plan to build a cancer care center in all six geopolitical zones to promote early detection and reduce cancer -related deaths.

However, medical experts suggest that the burden of national cancer may even be higher than what is shown by the current numbers. According to Dr. There is Umar, Chair of the Oncology and Cancer Care Committee from the Nigerian Medical Association, most of the lack of reporting from poor diagnostic infrastructure, low public awareness, cultural stigma, and scarcity of trained oncology specialists.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Dr. Umar noted, “The cancer statistics that we have today are not a true reflection of what is happening throughout the country. For every case diagnosed, there may be hundreds that are not reported or not detected.”

He added that this new investment in the centers of diagnostics, improved coordination between hospitals, and the work of institutions such as the National Institute for cancer research and treatment began to uncover the actual crisis scale. “We are now entering an era where increased data collection, awareness, and access to diagnostic devices will reveal the actual size of cancer in our society,” Umar said.

He then warned that the reported increase in anticipated cases was not merely a reflection of an increase in detection, but also due to increased exposure to risk factors. “Processed foods, immovable lifestyles, and lack of routine examinations place more Nigerians at risk – especially for cancer that can be prevented such as prostate, breast, and cervical cancer.”

Umar advocated a wider access to affordable health care, including at least one free medical check every year through the National Health Insurance scheme. He also stressed the importance of training more cancer care specialists and decentralization of access to screening and treatment services, especially in rural areas where superstition and incorrect information remain widespread.

“Cancer is a monster,” he said, “and we need a national commitment to fight it. Early detection is the key, and with increasing supervision and awareness, we finally begin to understand the true scale of the problem.”

Qudus Lawal, Program Director at the final initiative of Nigerian neck cancer, echoed this sentiment, connecting the increase in cases reported by increasing the mechanism of reporting and diagnostic equipment. Lawal, an obstetric and gynecologist consultant at the Irrua Specialist Hospital, noted that more health facilities now contribute data to international agencies for cancer research, offering a clearer picture of the burden of nigerian cancer.

“We see a more accurate number because more sites report cases. But even with that, we still know that the numbers are underestimated,” said Lawal.

He warned that except lifestyle patterns change, the state must strengthen the level of diagnosis of higher cancer. “People smoke more, drink more, live an inactive life, and eat badly. If we don’t turn this habit, the burden of cancer will continue to grow.”

Dr. Lawal concluded that while increasing diagnostics is very important, it must be paired with a preventive strategy such as improving public education, regular playback, and treatment of pre-cancer conditions.

“This is not just about reporting numbers,” he said. “This is about using data to prevent what we can and manage what we find.”