Former minister of Aviation and founder of the Nneka Chidoka Outreach Programme (NCOP), Chief Osita Chidoka, has urged federal lawmakers to prioritise increased funding for cancer care in Nigeria’s 2025 budget.
During a visit on Friday, January 17, to the Senate Committee on Health, chaired by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, and the House of Representatives Committee on Special Healthcare, NCOP presented a robust advocacy plan to tackle Nigeria’s cancer crisis during the committees’ budget defence.
A statement by Chidoka’s media office said that as part of its advocacy efforts, the former minister also engaged with various offices and met with Senator Tony Nwoye, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Kenneth Eze, Honourable Uche Okonkwo, and Hon Abel Gwamna, amongst others.
According to the statement signed by Ikechukwu Okafor, Chidoka highlighted the urgent need to transition the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) into a sustainable Catastrophic Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) which will cover cancer, sickle cell and renal disease with an initial allocation of N25 billion.
He further urged the legislators to prioritise completing and upgrading six Cancer Centres of Excellence by providing the N97 billion funding gap in the 2025 budget.
Speaking at the session, Chidoka stressed the devastating impact of inadequate cancer funding, noting that over 124,000 Nigerians are diagnosed annually, with many unable to access life-saving treatment.
“Cancer treatment must be accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their location or resources,” Chidoka stated. “Our lawmakers must act decisively to save lives by investing in sustainable and equitable cancer care.”
Every year, over 124,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer, yet limited infrastructure and insufficient funding mean that only a small fraction of patients receive the treatment they need.
Alarmingly, over $2 billion is spent annually on medical tourism, with cancer treatment accounting for the largest share. This is both unsustainable and inequitable.
NCOP, which has been working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), fully supports the minister’s bold plan to reform the health sector.
Chidoka, a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), reiterated NCOP’s commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the fight against cancer.
He also emphasised that proper funding for cancer care would save countless lives and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism. He called on all Nigerians to support this cause by signing NCOP’s petition for increased funding.
“We cannot continue to watch Nigerians lose their lives due to lack of access to treatment. Cancer is a national emergency, and the time to act is now,” the former minister stated.
