Nigeria Faces N1.42 Trillion Cervical Cancer Treatment Cost by 2030, Former Health Minister Warns
Nigeria could face a N1.42 trillion bill for cervical cancer treatment by 2030, prompting urgent calls for intervention during the launch of the national PECCiN initiative in Abuja.
Led by Prof. Isaac Adewole and supported by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, the plan targets HPV vaccination, early screening, and expanded access to life-saving healthcare nationwide.
Nigeria may be faced with a staggering N1.42 trillion bill for cervical cancer treatment by the year 2030 if proactive steps are not taken, according to Professor Isaac Adewole, National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE) Chairman and former Minister of Health. The professor made this revelation during the official launch of the “Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria” (PECCiN), which took place on Tuesday, June 3, in Abuja.
During the State House event hosted by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Prof. Adewole highlighted the significant financial strain cervical cancer places on Nigeria. He revealed that from 2026 to 2030, the country would need an estimated N2.2 trillion to implement a thorough and effective strategy for cervical cancer prevention and control. This strategy includes primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary treatment.
A significant portion of that cost, N1.42 trillion, is expected to go into the treatment of advanced cases of cervical cancer, also known as invasive cervical cancer. Prof. Adewole noted that nearly 300,000 Nigerian women will need critical care services for cervical cancer in that five-year period. However, he stated that the average treatment cost per patient is projected to decrease over the years from N8.7 million in 2026 to about N4.1 million by 2030 due to improvements in treatment efficiency and increased access to care.
In his remarks, Prof. Adewole stressed the importance of prioritizing cervical cancer elimination despite other national challenges. He described it as a worthwhile investment with significant health and economic returns, particularly for women’s health. He appealed for strong government and stakeholder support, saying, “We seek your commitment and support to implement robust cervical cancer elimination interventions in Nigeria. This will ensure that every woman is financially protected throughout her life, and no eligible adolescent is left behind in HPV vaccination.”
The PECCiN initiative is aligned with the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. It aims to prevent new cases through HPV vaccination, enhance early detection through mass screening, and ensure accessible and quality treatment. PECCiN also emphasizes cross-sector collaboration, resource mobilization, and scaling up health services across the country.
For primary prevention, Adewole said that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination program would be delivered through a mix of health facility sessions and outreach immunization campaigns. The direct cost of implementing this component from 2026 to 2030 is estimated at N387.52 billion, which rises to N426.28 billion when administrative and supervisory expenses are factored in.
The cost of secondary prevention, which involves cervical cancer screening, is projected at about N351 billion over five years, aiming to reach nearly 14.4 million women in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina, also spoke at the event. He highlighted that the Federal Government launched the HPV vaccine campaign in October 2023, aimed at girls between the ages of 9 and 14. So far, about 14 million girls have been vaccinated, a figure he described as a remarkable global milestone.
“This achievement was made possible through the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the unwavering support of the First Lady, and the collaborative effort of various ministries, local communities, and media platforms,” Aina said. He further stated that the HPV vaccine is now part of Nigeria’s routine immunisation schedule, with the government working to strengthen primary healthcare centres to enhance vaccine delivery.
Also present was Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), who described cervical cancer as a major public health challenge affecting Nigerian women across various roles as mothers, caregivers, and professionals.
Aliyu pointed out that the increasing incidence of cervical cancer led to the development of Nigeria’s National Strategic Plan for its prevention and control. The plan, according to him, reflects a blend of global best practices and local context, serving as a national roadmap toward elimination. He added that NICRAT had formed a taskforce made up of medical experts, researchers, and community stakeholders to drive the implementation process.
The launch event concluded with the unveiling of the official PECCiN logo and the presentation of the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan, symbolizing a united national effort to end the deadly disease within this generation.
